Page 122 of Dream Girl
“Is this the last one?” I grabbed a bag off the now-empty bed in Rose’s room at the center.
“Yep,” Rose told me, hoisting a big tote bag over her shoulder. “Thanks for helping.”
“Anytime.” I was glad to be out of the house and doing something. To get Wes off my back, I’d gotten a quick checkup at the clinic where they’d run some tests. I’d gotten a shot and told I needed extra snuggles. Okay.
“We’ll miss you, stop by and sayhianytime,” a woman in a pink Center polo told Rose as we walked toward the front.
Evan was waiting for us in the lobby. “All set.”
We threw the rest of her stuff in Evan’s 4x4, as a car careened into the parking lot. The door opened, and a red-headed woman, younger than me but older than Rose, tumbled out.
“Get in the car,” she yelled. “Rose Clarissa Matthews, get in the car right now.” She looked tired and stressed, clothes wrinkled, hair a mess.
Something about this immediately struck me aswrong.Not just her trying to make Rose get in the car, buther.
“Iris, I thought you went home.” Rose stepped behind Evan, fear on her face.
“I can’t go home without you. I told you that,” her voice shook. “Rose, I need to go to work, andI can’t go home without you.” Desperation flashed in her eyes.
Something was wrong.
“Shit. Dad’s an alpha?” Jett whispered, body on alert.
“My uncle’s the alpha and head of our family,” Rose whispered. “He’s the one who’s had everyone tell me to come home.”
More alpha bullshit. Great.
“Iris, I’m not going home. Both Mom and Ted told me to stay. Evan said the social worker already got you some relief funds and food. Go home, I’ll be fine.” Rose’s voice shook.
“Iris, I’m sorry about the circumstances at home, but you need to leave before security removes you,” Evan told her, voice calm and even.
“We don’t need charity, we needyou,” Iris insisted. “Now get in.” She grabbed Rose’s arm and yanked it toward the still-running car.
Rose screamed. Riley grabbed Rose, pulling her back toward us.
“Let go of her now. I’m a police officer,” Jett warned, flashing a badge.
“Iris, I get it, things suck at home,” I told her, trying to block her from getting to the car. “I’m sure having to pick up the slack while your sister goes to school stings, especially if you’ve given up your dreams for your family. But the thing is,you don’t have to do that.You’re not the parent.”
“My mom isin jailbecause of her, and Ted can’t find a job. Who’s going to take care of everyone if I don’t?” Iris fired back.
“If youwantto do it, go for it. But if you don’t, that’s fine. It’s not your job to figure out what happens if you leave. You’re allowed to have a life, too. Don’t let your family weaponize your siblings. Don’t resent Rose and the others, resent those who put you in that position,” I added, thinking of my brothers and how they’d hated me.
“Grace is telling the truth. Now let her go,” Jett ordered.
Iris gripped her tighter. “You don’t understand.I can’t.”
“We have someone who can fix that,” Evan soothed. “Let Rose go. Let’s go inside and figure this out. I can help you, if you’ll let me.”
“No.” Iris yanked Rose and tried to shove her in the car. Jett jumped on top of her.
“Rose.” I ran to her. Riley and I tried to extract her from her sister’s grasp as Evan helped Jett.
A bunch of uniformed dudes ran over. They weren’t alphas, but big, strong, and took orders. Deltas. The bouncers of this world.
Riley had her arms around Rose, who was sobbing.
Jett turned to Evan. “Do I need to call this in?”
