Page 12 of Carver's Obsession

Jana took a step toward her, making Erica take one back. She wouldn’t be able to handle it if her sister touched her.

Erica handed the envelope to Jana. “All I needed was to give you this.”

“And then what?” Striker asked.

“I have places to be.”

“You would leave without talking to me?’ Jana asked.

Erica could sense the disappointment and sadness in her sister, but at the moment, she could only handle her own emotions. She shrugged. “Yeah. You left me a long time ago. If you cared, you would have tried to reach me. You know how our mom was.”

“Selfish?” Jana said.

“That’s a nice way to describe her. She just got worse the older and sicker she got.” Erica waved the envelope. “Here.”

“What’s in it?” Jana asked.

Erica sighed. God, why didn’t they just let her go? “I’ve already said that Mom wrote you a letter, and there’s a check for half the house after I paid off the rehab place she was at.”

“Why didn’t you just keep it?” Feral asked.

Erica seemed surprised. “Because I promised our mom that Jana would get her half.”

“It’s also a good excuse to see her,” Striker said.

Erica snorted. “No. I tried to drop it off at the hospital, but they refused to take it. The only reason I’m here was one of the nurses told me where you lived. I thought I’d just be able to give it to someone here and go.”

Erica looked over her shoulder at Carver. “But some people seemed to think I should talk to you, that you’d want to see me. I tried to tell them that was not the case, but they wouldn’t listen.”

“I’m glad they didn’t,” Jana said. “I would like to talk.”

Erica gritted her teeth. “Why would you take the time now?”

“I’ve always thought of you,” Jana said.

Erica laughed sarcastically. “Oh, well, then that makes everything better. Listen, this is ridiculous. Just take the fucking envelope so I can leave.”

“Where will you go?” Kristina asked.

Erica glanced at the other woman. “There are several places I can go.”

“You’re a lousy liar,” Striker said.

Erica gasped. “I am not.”

Jana took another step closer. It already felt like she was going to shake apart inside. The last thing she needed was for Jana to touch her.

“It doesn’t matter. You can’t keep me here against my will,” Erica said.

“You won’t even give me a chance?” Jana asked.

Erica didn’t know what to think about her sister’s expression. “A chance for what? You have your life here, and you seem happy. I don’t want to get in the way.”

“But you won’t,” Kristina said and tapped Striker’s shoulder. “Will she?”

Striker studied her for a moment before he nodded. “You’ll stay here with us.”

Erica’s mouth dropped open. “Wait, you can’t just keep me here.”

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