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Chapter Fourteen
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She had so many mixed feelings about it all. She wanted to believe this cabin that had once been her safe haven wasn’t needed any longer. That Tabiq would turn around. It was a beautiful dream and one she believed in, yet it was going to take time. A lot of it. Greed is a disease that consumes and can be terminal.
That was exactly how she looked at Tabiq right now: it was sick. James Henderson had been a major player in starting the problem, but it was the poverty of the people that made the money more attractive. If something didn’t take its place, she feared the problem would return with a vengeance.
That didn’t mean she didn’t appreciate Alex and the others for shutting things down temporarily. In less than a day, the word had spread like wildfire. There wasn’t a place you could go without hearing murmurings about Rajani and other notable players being under lock and key. Although people seemed to have relaxed somewhat, she knew they hesitated for the same reason she did.
With the crooks not in charge, everything started to fall apart quickly. Their so-called police department was no longer in control because they weren’t on anyone’s payroll. So far, an outbreak of mayhem hadn’t taken place. She noticed more people walked the streets. She still hadn’t seen children outside playing or teenage girls come out of hiding. When that happened, she would know things had turned around for good. Until then, everyone would be extremely cautious and watchful.
Ziva wished she could be oblivious to what controlled Tabiq. It was all about money. She was scared as hell. Who would be the next one to step up? It’s only a matter of time before someone sees us as easy picking. Then we’re the victims of circumstance all over again.
She didn’t look at it as if it would happen. Ziva thought in terms of when. She wasn’t going anywhere. Tabiq was her home. It needed people like her to fight against every injustice they saw. I might not make a big wave, but a small ripple can still rock a boat. Ziva held her laughter. Or even knock a badass like Rajani out cold.
She was still shocked she’d raised her hand to someone. She’d always known there was a big boss pulling all the strings. Never in her wildest dreams would she have pictured it being a woman. How could a woman allow this to happen to other women? Her sister? That was what caused her to react in such a manner. It was a combination of utter shock and disgust, and years of tightly controlled emotions. I’d trust a rattlesnake before I’d trust her.
Rajani was only one person. There were many more like her no one knew about. Learning to trust wasn’t easy before. It was harder now.
“I don’t understand. You should be happy, yet you’re not,” Myla said to Ziva while they took one last walk through the cabin.
“I’m happy. But at the same time, I worry about Tabiq’s future. About your future.”
Myla smiled. “Mr. Henderson said I could go with him to Boston. He’ll pay for my schooling there. I want to be a teacher. Maybe after I graduate I can come back and teach.”
Ziva smiled. “Myla, that would be wonderful. If you set your mind to it, you can do anything. You’ve already proven that to me.”
“Thanks. I told Mr. Henderson he should ask you to come too. He said you told him no.”
That wasn’t exactly how it went, but the answer would’ve been no anyway. Boston wasn’t for her, even if Alex would have asked. But it hadn’t been a long lengthy discussion. She’d cut it off before he had a chance. He was an author, which meant he was a dreamer. She wasn’t. Ziva lived in reality. It wasn’t pretty or easy, but it was how she chose to live. If it was as easy as writing a happily ever after she would, but that wasn’t the case for Tabiq. It required people who would keep others accountable. She was one of those people. Not something I can do from Boston. I’m not sure I can pull it off living here.
“I belong here, Myla.”
“Then maybe I should stay with you so you’re not alone.”
Ziva almost cried at the generous, kind offer. It wasn’t one she’d let Myla do. Alex was her chance to escape and have a normal life. She wanted that for Myla, for all the girls. Tabiqians also spoke English, they’d do well if given the chance. And Alex is that chance. “I’m not alone.”
“Of course, you are. The man you love will be in Boston. I’ll be in Boston. And the other girls are going home to their families. How much more alone can you be?”
Well, that’s pretty depressing when you say it like that.“Myla, I have my work. I will be fine. Trust me. And if I get time, I’ll come and visit you in Boston.” Although Ziva knew her so-called job at the police station didn’t exist any longer, that wasn’t the one she’d been referring to. Her job didn’t pay in money but in satisfaction, knowing she was making Tabiq a better place. But somehow, I’ll need to find a job that pays so I can eat.
“You promise?” Myla asked, not yet convinced.
Ziva forced a smile and gave her a quick hug. “Believe me, Myla. If I’m in Boston, I’m visiting you.” It was a twist on words, but it covered her enough that it wasn’t a lie.
“Then I’m leaving with Mr. Henderson tomorrow morning. I don’t know what I should pack. Can you come and help me?”
Tomorrow?
So soon?
Her heart sank. She’d only had one time with him on that small island. It still hurt that he took her there, had sex with her, and then quickly accepted her answer that they didn’t have a future. Why hadn’t he tried to fight for me? It was probably better that way. The quicker, the better, they could both start to heal. It was weird with everything she’d been through emotionally and physically all these years, it was a broken heart that hurt the most.
“Yes, I’ll help you. I have a few books about Tabiq years ago that I think you might enjoy.”
“Why would I want to read about this place?”
“So that you will know Tabiq wasn’t always like this. And when you dream of a better Tabiq, you can see it is possible. We once were a lovely place to live and raise a family.” A time before I was born. The times changed when my parents were young. But they remembered. They told me the stories of large families and women who were cherished by the men in their lives. Like my papa cherished my mama.
