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Hearing him firsthand though…it’s a furious mix of both rage and terror.
“Maybe so,mija, but I’m not all bad. Don’t you remember all the good times we had?”
“I’m not interested in taking a trip down memory lane with you. I’ll stay in line, play the part of whatever this fucked up game is; I’m just asking for one thing.”
I hate how it sounds like I’m asking for permission, but this is me trying to keep me and Noah together. It’s selfish, I shouldn’t even think of bringing my best friend into my family drama, but I don’t think I can survive this without him.
So even though I wouldn’t beg Roberto for a crumb if I were starving, I swallow my pride and the bile.
“Please?”
The line is silent, but I can still hear the smug smile in my father’s breathing. I’ve never wanted to strangle someone as badly as I do right fucking now. I pace the room, ignoring Noah’s eyes as my face burns with embarrassment and anger. My jaw begins to ache as I clench it shut, biting down hard so I don’t say something that could fuck this up.
Finally, after basking in my begging, he sighs, “I will hear your request.”
But I won’t give it to you.He doesn’t say that, but I can hear it, nonetheless.
Just as I open my mouth to beg for my best friend to come with me, Noah stops my pacing, his hand slicing across his throat in the universal sign ofstop.
I can feel my brows folding in confusion, but Noah just shakes his head, making my fumble around for a made-up request.
“I-uh, mom said I’d have to leave for Coventry in a couple of days, but I was hoping it can be extended for a week. I have a life here; with friends I’d like to say goodbye to.”
It's a legit request—Rico and Leroy popping in my head. I would have hated leaving without being able to explain things to them.
“One week.” Says after a minute, “But don’t take my graciousness for granted,mija.
He hangs up before I can say anything.
“Fucking asshole.” I whisper as Noah pulls a joint out from behind his ear and lights it up before passing it to me.
I watch him as I take a drag, the pungent smoke clouding in the kitchen, swirling and dancing when the air conditioner kicks on. He looks lost in thought, his brows mashed together as he stares down at the floor.
“Why didn’t you want me to ask?” I pass him the joint.
Noah looks at me, his gaze holding mine, “Because he’s already using your mom to keep you in line. Your dad is on a power high, if he sees even an ounce of weakness, he’ll use it against you and our friendship,” he shakes his head disappointedly, “it’s our biggest weakness.”
“How’s that?” I ask, “Me and you against him? He’d never stand a chance.”
Noah’s eyes snap up to mine, “I have no doubt he’ll find himself biting off more than he can chew with us, but he will no doubt see that we’d do anything to protect the other and he will use that against us.”
“He plays chess with people’s lives.” I sigh knowing he’s right. I’m thankful Noah stopped me, but now what?
“Does this mean you’re not going with me?” I try to keep the sadness from my voice, but there’s no hiding the wobble in my words.
“Fuck no!” He tosses the half smoked joint in the sink before enveloping me in his arms, “We’re lifers, chica. I’m going with you, but we’re not telling Roberto that.”
My mom comes around the corner and stops at the table. Her face puffy and her nose red, but the determination in her eyes is something I didn’t think I’d see again.
She drops an overstuffed yellow envelope on the table with a heavy thud, “He’ll figure out you’re there, and he will no doubt try to get rid of you, but with this, you’ll at least have a head start.”
Noah releases me and picks up the envelope as my mother walks over to me, she reaches up and cups my cheek, her other hand pushing my hair behind my ear like she always does.
“I messed up, my love, and I have no excuse for it,” her tears slide down her face, mirroring my own, “But Iwillmake it up to you. I don’t know what your father has planned, but as I told Noah last night, there are too many ways Roberto can hurt you without ever touching a hair on your head. Do everything he asks of you, but don’t lose yourself in the process.”
She turns to Noah and my brows shoot up to my hairline when I see the three stacks of dollar bills all held together with paper bands that mark each one as ten thousand total. “That is thirty thousand dollars, it’s the best I could save up all these years knowing this day would come. At first, I began saving so Val could run when the time came. Obviously, it wasn’t enough for her to survive long on—”
“Wait,” I interrupt her, “you mean you planned on me running and leaving you behind?”
