Flying Free (MAC Security 2.50)

“No.” He shakes his head and shuffles his feet. “Thousand.”

My eyes go wide and my mouth hangs open. “Three thousand?” I ask, shaking my head. “You want me to give you three thousand dollars?”

“They said they’ll kill me, Ava... Look at what they’ve already done to me!” He points at his face, his eyes squinting at me in mirth. “If they kill me, it’ll be your fault.”

Years ago, when he would say that to me, I genuinely believed that it would be my fault but now? I know damn well that it won’t be my fault.

It’s his fault. He’s the one who’s a druggie, he’s the one who can’t control himself. Not me.

“Here’s the thing...” I say, straightening up and stepping closer to him. “I may have fallen for your guilt trips in the past but I’m not that person anymore. It won’t work on me. Why don’t you go and ask your son?”

“What-”

I take a step back, watching his eyes go wide at what I said.

When Thomas told me that he was my brother at Corey’s apartment, I didn’t know what to think or what to say. He started rambling things through the door. How he was sorry, that he didn’t know about me, that he came to find me and took up a position at the college.

I didn’t want to hear his excuses. They weren’t worth anything and for all I know, he could be lying. So I left him stood outside of the apartment building and locked myself in Corey’s apartment for the rest of the night, not going back out until I had to go to another lecture a couple of days later.

“Yeah,” I sneer. “Didn’t think he’d tell me, huh? Well, newsflash, he did. I don’t know what sick game you’re both playing but this is all on you. I won’t let you guilt me into helping you.”

“Yeah?” he asks, his mouth growing into a smirk. “You’re the reason I’m hooked on these things. If your mom never would have had you then she wouldn’t have been depressed. It was her that made me take the drugs, she got me hooked.”

Throwing my head back, I laugh. I laugh so hard that tears start to run down my cheeks. “That’s some messed up logic right there.”

“Nothing messed up about it,” he grinds out, his mouth taking on a grim line. “It’s your fault, Ava, and you need to help me.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” I huff and turn, walking away from him. If he really needs my help, then you would think he would at least be nice about it instead of flinging accusations and blame at me.

I get three steps before chills run down my spine at something he says and I turn around. “What did you say?” I ask, feeling the blood drain from my face.

“I said...” He steps forward and invades my space. “I know who you’re afraid of and he’s been asking for you.”

“W... what are you talking about?”

“Those scars he left?” he asks, raising a brow and chuckling. “He has pictures you know, he says that he needs to find you. That you’re his. See, he has a reward out for your location, so...”

My breaths come in pants and my head starts to spin as I process what he’s trying to say.

“You’ll go to him if I don’t give you the money?” I ask in shock but I really shouldn’t be shocked. He’ll do anything to save his own ass.

Shrugging, he turns his back on me and starts to walk away, taking a couple of steps and then looking at me over his shoulder. “You have two days, I’ll let you know the location.”

Where am I meant to find this kind of money? It isn’t like I have a job that pays really good so there’s no way that I’ll be able to borrow the money from the bank. I have one day left to find this money, the alternative doesn’t even bear thinking about.

Would he really tell him where I am?

I don’t even know why I qu

estion it because he will, I know he will.

My head feels like it’s going to explode and I’m so confused, I don’t know what to do. One minute I’m panicking that I need to get this money and the next I start to wonder whether I should. I mean, he’s in jail so it’s not like he can get to me anyway.

But what if he sends someone else after me?

I’m driving myself insane.

Then there’s the whole thing with Thomas. I didn’t know what to believe until I saw dad’s face, then I knew, he was who he said he was. I have no idea what to do about it all and I really want to talk to Corey about it. But I can’t because then I have to explain about my dad turning up and then the money and... everything. I just can’t do that; I need to deal with it myself.