Real Girl (Aston Creek High 4)

I grin while trying not to walk too fast. After all, she didn’t completely take the knife away. It’s still there and extremely life-threatening. I’m still feeling the burn from the small cut she gave me and it’s not nice. It stings like a bitch.

The second we step into the living room, Maria’s voice rings out loud and clear. “I want to see everyone’s hands.”

Blake’s head is the first to whip my way, instantly recognizing the voice. His eyes go wide. He hasn’t seen this woman for nearly seven months, and when he did see her last, she was a doting parent, giving him everything he ever wanted.

Slade is next to react. He instantly flies to his feet and goes to rush toward me but Maria tightens her hold on me; a silent warning that he needs to take her threat seriously.

He comes to an instant standstill, the panic clear on his face.

Shay stands, keeping her hands clearly visible as Nessa and Damian do the same with caution. Shay’s eyes darken in a way that I’ve never seen before, her voice low and demanding. “Take your hands off my niece before I take your hands off your body.”

Maria laughs. “Don’t use that tone on me. I’m the one who’ll be making the demands around here.”

Shaylee is backed into a corner. With the knife at my throat and the knowledge of how easily she shot her husband, there’s nothing she can do. She won’t risk it.

I meet Slade’s eyes, silently begging him to get me out of this situation, but the helplessness reflected in his own is making my hopes plummet. If I were anyone else, he’d take a risk in trying to free me, but he won’t play with my life. All it would take is one quick flick of her wrist and I’ll be dead.

Slade shakes his head; a message telling me not to do anything stupid. I don’t doubt a million different game plans are flying through his mind and he’s desperately searching for a way to free me, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

Blake straightens on the couch, trying to turn himself to face Maria but from where he’s sitting with his leg up, it’s not easily done. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Maria’s head whips around, her eyes wide as she looks at my brother. “Blake?” she whispers in a tone that suggests he’s the only reason she’s living. I sense her behind me, scanning over Blake’s body from head to toe. She sucks in a sharp gasp, clearly taking in the pins that are currently holding his leg together. “Tell me you’ll still be able to play? I need you in the NBA.”

Blake narrows his eyes at her. “Are you fucking kidding me? You have a knife at my sister’s throat and you’re worried about the NBA.”

“Of course I am,” she says with a heavy sigh as though her reasoning is crystal clear. “Your sister is the reason I lost everything. You understand, don’t you? I need you to come back home. I’ll look after you and get you all the best doctors. It won’t be like it was before but we’ll build it all back up and then when you get signed to the NBA, they’ll all come crawling back. You’ll see.”

Blake’s mouth drops, gawking at her as though she’s finally lost her mind.

I try not to laugh but it’s nearly impossible. She’s fucking crazy if she thinks Blake’s about to go back with her to a burned down mansion so she can use him to climb back up her precious social ladder.

The laugh gets the best of me and it bubbles up my throat, earning me a sharp glare from Slade as Maria jostles me, warning me to shut the hell up.

Blake shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Your husband did this to me.”

She shakes her head, pushing me toward Blake. “But didn’t you hear? Lucien is gone now. He’s dead. You have nothing to worry about. You can come home.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Maria,” he repeats. “Look at yourself. You shot and murdered your husband in cold blood and now you’re holding my sister hostage with a knife.”

She scoffs in my ear. “You make it sound so bad.” My body gets shaken. “This is nothing. Lucien had to die and really, it was all Skylah’s fault. This here is just a little necessary evil to get a point across. I need you to come home with me. Come and get in my SUV and I’ll let Skylah go. I promise.”

Indecision flashes in Blake’s eyes and I narrow my eyes at him, lowering my voice into a deep, warning growl. “You move a fucking inch and I’ll kill you myself, Blake.”

Blake’s eyes come back to mine and I see him considering it, but it’s not like he can do anything about it. The guy can’t even move enough to scratch his own ass. He won’t be going anywhere tonight.