Page 50 of Slayer

With a deep steadying breath, I stepped into the hallway and got a drink from the drinking fountain before walking back to the courtroom. Reaching out with a shaky hand, I inched the door open and stopped when I heard my name.

“Of course she’ll go to Nightguard. She’s a Sinclair!” Kitty’s voice boomed. “And I expect legacy treatment for her, Rubina.”

“She doesn’t need legacy treatment,” Celia interjected.

“Of course we will treat her with the utmost respect, Kitty.” Headmistress Rubina’s voice carried over.

A face popped into view, and I yelped when I saw the judge.

“Ready to join us?” he asked, a slight twinkle in his eye.

He knew I’d been listening. Oops.

“Yep.” I cleared my throat, envelope tucked under my arm.

He opened the door wider, and I stepped into the space as everyone quieted.

“Well, my legal duty is done. I have another case to prepare for tomorrow. You are all welcome to go,” the judge announced.

Celia peered at me, frowning as her gaze swept over my face. Could she tell I’d been crying?

“Thank you so much, Your Honor,” Kitty purred and stepped forward, cutting off Celia to stand right in front of her.

Rubina, the DNA guy, and who I assumed was their lawyer left the room as I stood before Kitty Sinclair.

She opened her arms slightly. “I guess we have a lot to catch up on, don’t we, Granddaughter?”

I peered at her open arms but made no move to walk into them so she relaxed them at her sides, frowning. There was a sharp look in her eye, a look that told me to watch myself.

“Listen, I was thinking, Grandmother is for old, boring women. I really like Nona or Gigi. Has a nice ring, don’t you think?” she pondered.

If you want to save yourself years of heartache, don’t even talk to her. I replayed my mother’s advice into my mind and nodded.

Without a word, I sidestepped Kitty, walking past her, and stood before Celia. “Can we go now?”

She looked surprised and like she was fighting off a grin. “Of course.” She hooked her elbow with mine and guided me out the door.

When I peered over my shoulder, a chill ran down my spine with the look Kitty was giving me now. It was like looking at a demon: cold eyes and no soul.

“She’ll never forgive you for that,” Celia whispered.

I didn’t care. I’d had enough heartbreak in my life. I didn’t need any more. If that woman abused my mother, I wanted nothing to do with her. Just because she was my blood didn’t make her my family.

CHAPTER

NINE

We made it back to Celia’s house, and I handed her the letter written for her and then attempted to leave the car to give her peace, but she stayed me with her hand.

“Read it with me? But fair warning, I’m going to be a sobbing mess,” Celia said.

I nodded. I was actually dying to know what my mother’s letter to Celia would say. How it might differ from mine.

Celia caressed the words on the front of the envelope as if lost in a distant memory. Taking a deep breath, she tore it open gently, unfolding the letter and holding it out for both of us to read.

Cel,

You know how much my mom broke me, how much she made me feel like I didn’t have any family, that I was unlovable. And then you became my family. You are my sister, my best friend, my mother, my everything. Any good thing left inside me is alive because you nourished it when my mother beat it down. I need you to know that.