Page 121 of Fractured Souls
“Well, you have me. Whenever you need me.” He cups my face and kisses me again. “I love you, Bowen Zhao.”
“I love you, Camden Almeida.”
Chapter 30
Aiden
Thishousesmellslikecow shit.
For someone who parades around like they have all the money in the world, Ivan always chooses the shittiest places to live. I don’t know why. Well, I do know. He tries to hide how broke he truly is. How he has a faithful staff of idiots is beyond me.
The miles of farmland surrounding us bleed through the walls. Everything smells like cows. It’s worse in my car, which I’ve parked in the woods on his property. It was freezing sleeping in it during the winter, but now that it’s April the nights aren’t so brutal. I can’t imagine how the summer is going to be.
It won’t take that long. I’ll see to it.
I could find a cheap place to rent, but all the money I earn doing Ivan’s dirty work is going toward my goal. Katya and I will have our own place. For now I refuse to go anywhere else. I’ll sleep in their driveway, I don’t care.
“Hey.” Koda lifts his head before doing a double take. “Whoa, what’s going on? Ivan know you’re here?” None of them knowI’ve been sleeping in my car since we arrived months ago. I never leave. I found a nice spot in the woods on this property to hide away in. I want to be close to her even if I’m not always allowed to see her.
“He needs me.”
Koda eyes me, cocking his head. The sides of his head are shaved, it’s a grayish color, and the long top flops on one side of his shaved head. His blue eyes are nearly silver. It’s unnerving. I’m glad Katya has warm brown ones, just like our mother. Although there was nothing warm about that woman.
“Do you think he found it yet? I’m really tired of living in these run-down houses.”
“Well, you’re almost eighteen.” Although what will happen to Koda after that probably won’t be anything good. Once Ivan has you, that’s it, you’re his property. Koda’s also his biological son. I can complain all day long, but at least he’s not my family by blood, just unfortunate circumstance.
Only for a little while longer.
I almost feel bad for Koda, but if anyone can survive this, it’s him. “Do you even know what it looks like?”
“Do I look like someone who Ivan tells shit to?!”
“Me fucking rawr.” He claws the air like a cat.
“It’s meow.” With an eye roll I storm to Ivan’s office. “What are you doing?” Koda is hot on my heals.
“I want to see what Daddy wants." He says.
“Daddy?” I nearly gag. “Don’t ever call him that in front of me again.”
“Why, you wanna be my Daddy?”
“Shut the fuck up. I’m basically your brother.”
“Eh, no, not even close. We share a sister, that’s all.”
“How has Katya been adjusting?” I get to see her when Ivan leaves. Occasionally he lets me see her with him here. Ivan has taken everything from me. I won’t let him take her too.
“You know, she’s a kid. She’ll be fine. They bounce back. Look at us.”
“Yeah, the picture-perfect example of quality mental health and stability. You’re right.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“I have shit to do. Piss off.”
“Fine. Let me know what he says. I want to find this damn statue and get the hell out of this place. It smells like shit in here.”
