Slowly, Jim and Rhonda creep towards me, eyeing my form like criminals ready to rape or murder. But they’re not going to rape or murder, I’m their daughter. All they’re going to do is rob me blind.
And in a flash, Rhonda reaches for my purse as Jim pins my arms behind my back.
“Get it,” he snarls to my mom. “Get her wallet.”
I scream, legs flailing, trying to escape. But my only thought is for my sister.
“Nicole!” I shriek into the back room. “Run! Now! Run!”
Just then, the front door crashes open. It’s literally knocked off its hinges and I gasp with relief because Mason’s standing there. My man, huge and dominant, staring daggers at Jim and Rhonda.
“Don’t touch her,” he snarls, face a mask of rage. “Get your filthy hands off her.”
And like a puppet, Jim lets me go.
“We weren’t doin’ anything!” Jim whines. “This here is our flesh and blood, we weren’t gonna touch a hair on her head!”
Rhonda nods furiously, purse dropping from her limp fingers.
“We were just borrowin’ a little sumthin’,” she adds with a wink. “You know, between parent and child? It’s all family, we’re one unit.”
Tears run down my cheeks, but quickly my head turns to see my sister standing frozen in the doorway, a small duffel over her shoulder.
“Nicole,” I manage on a shaky breath. “Let’s go.”
And nodding, my sister pads silently to me as I take her hand. Slowly, I guide the blonde down the steps of the apartment out to the parking lot. The concrete is baking, heat almost rising from the asphalt, but I’ve never been so happy to be outside. Who cares if we’re surrounded by the hulls of rusted cars? Who cares if behind us, there’s another screeching noise and then a loud thump.
Because Mason reappears in the doorway, face grim.
“Let’s go,” he commands, taking my hand. “It’s time to jet.”
Nicole looks fearfully at him for a moment, and I don’t blame her. Never before has he looked so intimidating, commanding, and murderous, all rolled into one.
But I soothe her.
“Come on, it’s okay. I know him. Besides, where else are we gonna go? It’s just me and you kiddo, just like always.”
And nodding, that blonde head lowers to look at the floor for a moment. But then she raises her face once again, tears in those cornflower eyes.
“Thank you, Carrie,” she says in a whisper. “Thank you. You’ve always protected me. You’ve always done what’s best for me, even if it meant putting yourself in danger.”
I catch her small form to my frame, hugging her tight. Tears course down my cheeks as well.
“We’re gonna be okay,” is my fierce whisper. “You hear? We’re gonna be okay.”
And within a few seconds, we’re into Mason’s car, the billionaire’s face grim as his eyes stare ahead.
“Let’s go,” he grunts. “We need to get you girls safe.”
With that, the Maserati fishtails out of the parking lot, his sure hands powerful on the gears, foot pumping the brake and gas masterfully.
I look back at the apartment, just once. The sagging roof. The broken down steps, the railing that’s splintered through with termites. And like a wraith, my mom appears in the doorway, wailing and waving one arm.
“You’ll never be free of us!” she screams as exhaust clouds her face. “We’re your only flesh and blood! You’ll never get away.”
Turning back resolutely in my seat, I stare forwards, seeing nothing. Because is that true? Other than Nicole, Jim and Rhonda are all I have in the world. They didn’t do a good job taking care of us, but they are my parents, the blood of my blood. I don’t have anyone else. Except now … maybe Mason?
And like he can hear, the billionaire jerks his head my way, blue eyes fierce even as his hands guide the car masterfully through the trash-strewn streets of the Bronx.
“I gotcha, baby girl,” is that stirring rumble. “You can count on me, sweetheart.”
And the tears start for real then. They run down my cheeks in hot trails, even as I try not to make a sound. Because they’re not tears of sadness. They’re tears of joy. I have someone on my side that I can trust. Someone who cares about me. No longer do I need to bear the weight of the world on my own, Mason will help me shoulder the burden. And so with a strangled half-cry, half-sob, I reach over the center console and grab one big hand in mine. It’s warm and calloused, his fingers swallowing my small ones entirely.
“Thank you,” comes my soft breath. “Thank you.”
And something in his eyes flash then. I’m not sure what it is exactly, but if I had to guess, I’d think that the alpha was falling in love. It’s not supposed to be this way, I know. He’s a sugar daddy, and I’m his sugar baby. People in our situation don’t fall in love, that kind of stuff is for fairy tales. But all the same, my heart leaps as my gaze meets Mason’s crystal clear blue eyes. Because even if the billionaire hasn’t fallen in love … I definitely have.