Page 85 of Corruption

“No. You and the security will track down Kiya. I’ll deal with my brother.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that when he says he plans to deal with his brother, he means he’s going to kill him. It was one thing for his brother to throw Kiya out the house. Another to be engaged to her and Alik allowing the wedding to happen if needed. But it’s another for Vaughn to try to kill her. To try to hurt her.

“I’m the most likely to get out of whatever mess he’s started alive than you are,” Alik says. “Call me as soon as you have Kiya.”

I nod and then look at one of the security guards that are going to stay with Isaak and say, “You contact me if anything even look likes it’s turning for the worse.”

“Auntie, I’m—”

“Yes ma’am,” the guard says, cutting Isaak off, but I barely register his response as I’m already flying out the door with Alik behind me.

32

Kiya

Even though I eventually found my footing when I arrived in New York City alone with only five hundred dollars that I’d stolen out my mother’s safe, it still took a couple of weeks. A couple of weeks of stealing food before I found a job. A couple of weeks of breaking into warm empty houses to sleep for the night and wash up in the morning until I found an apartment I could afford. All of which involved me learning how to break and then repair locking mechanisms within minutes. All of which involved me learning to look for cameras and figure out where they’d most likely be based on logistics when I couldn’t see them and then figure out the blind spots. It was like the stupid math problems in my GED prep book. I got really good at it seeing as I never got caught until Addy and Adrian caught me.

Thus, it’s pretty much child’s play to find the blind spots in the camera system in Alik’s and Nadia’s home and then stay in them so I can make my escape. Child’s play to figure out how to override the electronic locking mechanisms without alerting their security when I do escape.

When I’m out, I calmly walk down the sidewalk as not to draw attention to myself because people pay attention to people who look like they’re in a hurry. Then, once I’ve walked about two miles, I call an Uber. Not on the phone Addy and Adrian gave me. But the phone I had before all this. The prepaid phone I got with a set number of minutes, data, and text messages because it was the only thing I could afford. I’d stuffed it in my things ages ago and forgotten about it until I remembered I had it when I needed to escape Alik and Nadia.

The Uber takes me to Addy and Adrian’s house. I thought about using it to get out the city. To start over again somewhere else. But damn it, I chose New York City. I chose to make my life here, and being caught up in the middle of a mafia conflict that I didn’t ask to be a part of isn’t going to take it from me.

Adrian greets me when the servants let me in.

“Kiya. I didn’t know you were coming by. What brings you here?”

“I…” I trail off.

“Is something wrong?” he asks, brow furrowing as his expression turns severe.

“No. No. I’m here to see Addy. We had something planned today. Um… brunch,” I say, hoping that Addy’s here and didn’t have anything else planned.

“Brunch,” Adrian repeats, and for a moment I think he sees right through me. Finally he says, “She’s in her office. I’m sure she’ll welcome the interruption. It’s always a little hectic after the new year.”

“Yeah… Thanks,” I say and dart down through the house to find the connecting walkway that joins the part of the estate where Addy and Adrian work when they don’t go to the main office.

Too soon and yet not fast enough, I make it to Addy’s office. I’m not even able to knock before I hear her telling me to come in. They probably have cameras too. Just like Alik and Nadia.

“Close the door behind you, dear,” Addy says as I enter the room. Then, “Adrian called and told me you were headed this way. Apparently, you and I have a brunch date that I’m just now finding out about. So have a seat. Let’s have brunch, Kiya.”

I sink into the chair across her desk and begin, “I…”

“No need to be intimidated. Tell me what’s going on.” Addy looks me up and down and then says, “Oh. Do you need me to help you make arrangements?”

“Arrangements?” I ask, confused.

“No need to be coy, Kiya. These things happen. You wouldn’t be the first woman to come to me seeking help for a discreet doctor to perform an abortion so their husbands or fiancés or fathers or whatever won’t find out. Sometimes, you don’t want a baby. Sometimes, you don’t want a particular person’s baby. It’s okay. It’s easy enough to take care of.”

“I don’t—” I sputter. “I don’t need an abortion.”

“Oh. You’re keeping the baby then? How do you plan to play that off with Vaughn? He’s going to know it’s not his and that you’ve been fucking his brother and wife.”

“I’m… not pregnant.”

Addy rolls her eyes. “You don’t have to deny it. I could tell as soon as you walked in.”

“But I’m not.”

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