Page 84 of Cruel Possession
“But nothing. This is what you always do. People get close, and you pull away. I tried so hard to bond with you when we were younger, but you didn’t want to deal with me. You kept me at a distance, but you told me to protect myself. Now you’re doing that same shit again, and I’m getting tired of it.”
“Something is going to happen sooner or later.”
“Somethingalwayshappens.” She shoves her drink to the side, folding her arms and leaning against the table. “You need to tell me what it is you know. I can’t take your warnings seriously if you’re not going to tell me what’s on your mind.”
“You just need to be ready to pack up the kids and go stay with Mom.”
Gia scoffs and shakes her head, offering more of her grilled cheese sandwich to Bianca. “Mom? You seriously think Mom is going to be the one to protect us? I could count on one hand all the times Mom has protected me. And I’d still have fingers to spare.”
“She’s better than nothing, and if you go into my room, there’s a locked box hidden under the floorboards beneath the nightstand on the right side of my bed. It’s got everything you need in there to get the hell out of here and start a new life.”
Gia takes my hands, but I pull them away.
Hurt flashes across her face.
“Look, Zoe. The Lyndes already have escape plans in place. They have ways of getting us out of the city and keeping us together. As a family. I don’t have to worry about being pulled away from the people I love.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, debating how much I can tell her without her turning against me. “There are things going on that you don’t understand.”
She plucks Dominic out of the stroller and holds him close as he begins to fuss. “Then don’t you think you should start telling me those things? Please, Zoe. I want to trust you, but it’s difficult. You’ve been distant for a long time, and then you were acting like you wanted to kill me. You sure as hell wanted to kill my family.”
I glance around, and sure enough, a couple of people are beginning to look over at us, their stares fleeting. “You need to lower your voice.”
“Enough!” Gia stands up and shakes her head. “You’re being paranoid. Nothing is going to happen to any of us. Aiden has the best interests of the family in mind, and he makes every move in this stupid fucking war to protect us. I know even you can see that.”
“I can, but one day, it’s not going to be enough. There are things that even he doesn’t know about.”
“Then maybe you should tell him.” She puts Dominic back in the stroller before buckling Bianca into the seat beside him. “You look like you’re falling in love with him. Maybe it’s time that you start trusting him. Thinking that he could be someone special. That he’s part of your family.”
“You and the kids are my family. And I told you that I was willing to plan for Royce too.”
She pauses, taking money out of her wallet and tossing it down on the table. “But what about everyone else?”
“Fuck them.”
“Even Aiden?”
I can’t say anything. Nothing.
For the first time in my life, there’s someone other than my sister I care about. And due to the events that have been set in motion long before I was ever alive, they are all in danger. And I don’t know what to do.
There’s a pain that sits deep in my chest with the knowledge that I can’t protect them all. That I’ll have to pick and choose.
Gia scoffs. “That’s what I thought.”
“There are more threats being left at my door. You know that. I told them I was done. They’re going to be coming after me, and they’re going to start coming after you.”
Gia shrugs. “Then let them.”
“How could you say that?” I spring out of my seat, following her to the door. “You could end up dead. I’ve spent my entire life trying to make sure that you don’t die, and now I’m telling you that you need to be ready to run, and you’re going to act like I don’t give a shit?”
“I know you do.” Gia stops just outside the smoothie shop, turning to face me. “But I have Royce now. He’s the father of my children, and he’s the one person in this world that I know would throw himself or even me in front of a bullet to protect them.”
“I would.”
“You wouldn’t.” She puts her hands on my shoulders. “I love you, Zoe, I always have, but you’re selfish. You’re always going to do what’s best for you, and you’re never going to change. And I can’t trust that when you’re given the choice between me and my children that you’re going to pick them.”
“I would.” I swallow hard, tears burning in the corners of my eyes. “I would choose them because I know you would want me to.”
