Hope

Hope

Arabella

THE LAST TWO weeks have been somewhat peaceful. No one has attacked me at school or away from campus. I haven't been going home to my mother's house though. Vinnie and I have been staying at Mrs. Andrews' house because it's safer for both of us. My mother has been partying hard from what I can tell based on the number of people going in and out of the house and the music blaring from some kind of speakers someone took there. If we were in any other section of High Point, they would be getting shut down for all the fucking noise there. Instead, my mother and her friends do what they please because no one gives a shit. Mrs. Andrews refuses to let Vinnie or myself over there for any reason. I can't blame her because there's nothing good that can come from us being there. Vinnie won't be able to sleep and I will no doubt be attacked by my mother or anyone else she lets through the door. It's never been this bad before.

At school, I'm still hiding from the guys and everyone else. The only time I see anyone is when I'm in a lecture hall or at the library. Karmen still glares at me along with Collette and the rest of the assholes who follow them blindly. They talk shit when I'm around and there's nothing I can do about that shit. However, if they leave me alone and don't fuck with me, I'm more than happy for things to continue on with how they currently are.

Brock is slowly finding all of my hiding spots. It doesn't matter where I go or where I am, he seems to pop out when I'm lost in my head. My friend always brings me something to eat and drink so I'm not eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or cold pizza. The food is hot and filling. No matter how many times I tell him he doesn't need to spend his money on food for me, Brock doesn't listen and still does what he wants. I simply roll my eyes at him because there's nothing I can do to stop him. The man finds me no matter what I do or how often I change where I hide out. It's honestly insane how often he finds me.

The guys are still looking for me all over campus. They don't seem to know any of my hiding spots and for that I'm thankful. I've been seeing them all over campus. More than ever before. However, they don't ever have the chance to get close to me because I don't let them. Every single time I see one of them, I rush off so they don't have a chance to get close to me. The only one it seems that isn't actively searching me out is Kash. He holds back and lets the other guys pursue me. That's kind of how it's always been when it comes to Kash though. He'd rather have his nose buried in some kind of electronic device versus interacting with anyone else except the guys. I was once included in that group of people, but now I'm nothing more than a passing phase to them. Someone they used to know and spend time with.

Today, it seems as if my luck has finally run out though. As I walk across campus to my hiding spot behind the library, I run into Kash. Literally. My body slams into his and I let out an oomph because he's fucking solid. Kash isn't as big as the rest of the guys, but he's got muscles in all the right places that hide beneath his clothing. Today he's wearing a black pair of dress pants with a dark blue button-down shirt. I've never seen him in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. This is simply who Kash is and how he prefers to dress. Kash is so damn good looking and it breaks my heart to know that I can't ever have him in my life again.

"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry," I stammer out, my heart beating out of my chest from coming into any kind of contact with Kash.

"Don't be sorry, Song Bird. Um, can I talk to you for a minute? I don't want to push you or make you uncomfortable, but I've found somethin' and you really need to know what it is. It's gonna completely change your life and allow you to get out of High Point if that's what you choose to do," Kash asks, his tone soft and quiet as he looks at the ground by our feet instead of looking at me.

"I guess. It's just you, though, right?" I question, looking around the area to make sure no one else is with him to ambush me in some kind of attempt to get me to talk to them.

"It's just me. I wouldn't approach you with the guys knowin' you don't want anythin' to do with us. That's on us and I hope you'll eventually give us time to explain what happened and why we did what we did. I know that day isn't today though. But, it doesn't change the fact that I found somethin' and you really need to know what it is," he answers, his voice barely above a whisper as he looks around to make sure no one else is near us.

Kash is nervous. It's in the way he holds his body like I'm going to run from him at any second. I'm really not sure if the news he has to give me is good or bad at this point. However, knowing that it will give me the freedom to leave High Point means I'm going to listen to him because that's what I want more than anything else in my life. With the exception of making sure Vinnie stays with me.

"Follow me," I tell him, making the decision to go to the spot I was heading when I ran into Kash. We'll be hidden from view and no one will find us. I've been there long enough to know that's the truth.

Kash and I take a seat beneath my favorite tree. We're completely surrounded by the other trees and no one will see us even if they're actually looking for us. Brock said this spot was the hardest one to discover because there's so much tree coverage and it took him following me to actually discover where this hiding spot was. As long as we keep our voices low, we shouldn't be discovered or overheard by anyone who might get too close.

Neither one of us says anything for a minute after we take our seats. I play with the hem of my shirt since it's falling apart. All of my clothes are falling apart in one way or another. If I ever have extra money, I don't ever buy myself clothes or anything I don't need for school. All of my money goes to bills and what Vinnie needs. Sometimes, I get him something I want him to have. At the end of the day, my brother will always be my priority and there's nothing that will ever change that shit for me.

"So, um, what did you have to tell me?" I finally ask, my voice a whisper because I'm so nervous and filled with varying emotions.

My heart is racing and I'm shaking. The palms of my hands are covered in sweat too. It's been a long time since I was so close to one of the guys. Other than the day I ran into Dante and had to wait on them at Slice of Heaven. With Kash being the only one with me, I smell a hint of his cologne. It's subtle and makes my mouth water with how good he smells. Add in the underlying scent of pine from the body wash he uses and it's a lethal combination. One I could never resist because Kash is so sweet and not like the rest of the guys he chose as his best friends.

"Well, we know there's shit goin' on and that all of the deaths that have taken place in the last few years aren't what they seem to be. For example, all of us believe your grandparents were murdered. We don't know by who, but there was somethin' off about the night they died. I've been diggin' since then into anythin' I can find about what they were doin', who was in their life, and how often they met with others outside of the gated community," Kash informs me, his voice letting me know how serious he is about this as my heart breaks even more.

I might not have been close to my grandparents after my dad died at work, but it doesn't mean I didn't mourn them when I heard they were killed. My grandparents were good people and they didn't deserve to be murdered if that's in fact what happened to them. So, now anger fills me at the thought that they were taken out of this world for someone's selfish reasons.

"Okay. I still don't get what that has to do with me, Kash. I can't do anything to bring them back or help you solve their murder considering I wasn't around them for a long time when they died. I don't know about anything that you do on the computers or anything else. I appreciate the information, but it wasn't necessary to stalk me all over campus to tell me that," I inform him, my heart shattering with this new information Kash just dropped in my lap.

"That's not what I want to tell you, Song Bird," Kash says softly, his voice as low as mine is while he finally looks at me and I hold in the gasp of shock at the tender look in his eyes. "When I've been diggin', I finally found the will your grandparents left. The one that was shown to the families wasn't real and that's why Collette moved to High Point. I don't know if they created the fake will, or if it was someone else. I'll eventually have that information so we can put the person behind bars. So, here's the real will that your grandparents left behind."

Kash pulls out his tablet and taps it a few times before he hands it over to me. I'm looking at a will with a ton of language I don't understand. However, my name is the only one mentioned in the paperwork. Looking at Kash, he begins to explain everything to me after moving closer and pointing at various parts of the document while scrolling from one screen to the next. If I thought my heart was racing before, it's nothing compared to right now. My entire body trembles and I can hardly pull in a breath of air as black spots start to fill my vision. I cannot have a panic attack or anything else right now. Not when I'm vulnerable and here with Kash and no one else.

I don't bother pulling out my sandwich and Brock never shows up as I finally look at the time and stand from where we've been sitting. Kash gives me a soft smile before he drops the final bombshell of the day.

"I know you don't know anythin' about The Faction at this point in time, Song Bird. But, one of the major rules is that we all have to marry someone worthy of the group. The guys and I all want to be with you. That's never been a question. Yeah, I know you don't understand why I'd say that when we left you all those years ago. Like I said before, everythin' will be talked about eventually. Now, if you don't want to marry one of us, then our fathers will choose someone for you to marry. You won't have a choice in the matter either. They'll chose someone they can easily manipulate and bend to their will. If you choose one of us, that won't be the case. For the first time ever, a woman will sit at the table of The Faction," Kash states as if he isn't irreparably changing my life with his words.

I don't honestly know what to say to Kash as he continues to look at me. My legs almost give out on me as we stand close together. Kash wants to reach out to help me and make sure I remain on my feet, but he doesn't let himself touch me like he wants to. Instead, he pulls his hand back and clenches his hand into a fist. With a nod of my head, I accept the papers he's just pulled out of his bag and turn to leave him. Kash doesn't call me back or try to follow me as I take off on him and make my way toward my next class. My mind is a jumbled mess and I can't even begin to start making things less messy in my mind. Today just went to hell and I don't know what I can do to make things start to make sense.

***

The name and phone number for the lawyer are at the top of the papers Kash gave me a few hours ago. After my last class, I called the number and talked to a lady by the name of Miranda Donovan. She seems like a good lady and is ready to sit down and talk to me about the will and everything else going on with my grandparents" will. When I told her it had been lost and someone just found it, Mrs. Donovan was shocked by my admission. She understands that I don't have a lot of time to meet with her with everything I have going on at school and that there's no way I can get to her office without walking. So, we've agreed to meet at a local coffee shop that's two doors down from Slice of Heaven. I know how long it will take for me to walk there since I walk to my job on a regular basis.

Brock walked me to the gate of campus before letting me walk away from him. He watches me as usual until he can no longer see me. I know he wants to give me a ride into town, but he doesn't say anything since he knows I won't accept the offer from him. It's not that I don't trust Brock to get me to town safely. I simply can't give into anything I want because at the end of the day I'm protecting myself from being hurt by him or anyone else I let into my life. Brock can only be let in so far because eventually he'll leave me just like I've thought before.

My walk into town was quick. Today it's not completely freezing cold out and I let the sun wash down over me. It warms me up from the inside out and that's something I truly need in this moment. Ever since Kash told me about the will and the stipulation I would need to fulfill my role in The Faction. I don't even know what the fuck that is. Knowing I have to marry one of the guys makes me feel so many fucking things I haven't allowed myself to feel in so long.

Walking in the coffee shop, I easily spot the lawyer. She's sitting at a table in the back corner of the shop. I put a small smile on my face and make my way over to her as nerves fill me.

"Arabella Moore?" she asks me, her voice rich and soft as she stands from her seat at the table.

"Yes. Mrs. Donovan?" I return, my voice shaking with how nervous I am.

"Yes. It's nice to meet you, Miss Moore. Please, take a seat," she says, gesturing to a chair across from her as I pull it out. "Your grandparents talked about you every time I saw them in my office. They loved so you so much, Miss Moore. At the end of the day, they said something bad had happened to you and there was so much they wanted to do for you and their hands were tied. I don't know what any of that means and they didn't elaborate. What I do know is they wanted to leave you the world and they chose to leave everything they own and valued to you."

I'm completely floored by her words. This is stuff I knew nothing about because no one ever talked to me after my tenth birthday. Tears fill my eyes and I know there's no way in hell I can stop them from spilling over. I lower my eyes to the table in front of me as a waitress comes over to take our order. Mrs. Donovan orders some elaborate drink while I simply order a bottle of water. I don't need anything more than that and I don't have money to spend on anything.

"Please, call me Arabella. So, you're saying that the document Kash Richardson handed over to me is real and there's nothing that can change what it says?" I ask her for clarification based on everything Kash told me a few hours ago.

"Arabella, everything Kash told you is true. These documents are legitimate and there's no way anyone can dispute them. I don't know what you've been through or anything, but everything is yours. It's only a matter of a few signatures from you and everything will be in your name. The money, the mansion, everything in the mansion, the cars, and all other assets that I have listed on this document here. You own it all after you sign the documents I have. I will inform you that your uncle and cousin have been trying to get their hands on the money and everything else. We've stopped every single attempt they've made. Even gone after their lawyers and made them stop attempting to get what doesn't belong to them. They're not happy about it at all.

"Once you sign the papers, we'll ensure you have protection and that everyone involved knows the assets are yours and only yours. You will be able to kick your family out of the mansion they've taken over and everything. It's your legal right to live there and you can do that at any time you choose. So, if you're ready to move forward, then we can make sure you sign all the papers I have and I'll get them filed. You'll need to go to the bank and show them your identification to get the accounts in your name. I suggest putting a second name on the account as a protective measure," Mrs. Donovan tells me, her voice fading to nothing as my mind swirls with everything she's just dumped on me.

Mrs. Donovan sets a stack of papers in front of me and shows me in each document where I need to sign. After I sign my name a hundred times, she informs me we need to get back to her office so I can get copies of the documents that I'll need to put up in a safe place where no one can get them. So, I decide to get a safe deposit box at the bank and lock everything up in there once I'm done making sure I have everything taken care of there. Exhaustion fills me as I finally leave Mrs. Donovan behind at her office and make my way toward the bank where I get the rest of my business handled.

Part of me is in shock because I now have more money than I know what the fuck to do with. I'll never be able to spend it in several lifetimes. Even if I blew a majority of it on stupid bullshit, I'd still never go through all the money my grandparents have left me. That's without adding in any of their assets. I honestly don't know what the fuck to make of this new change in my life. This is nothing I've ever expected to happen and I don't honestly know where to start pulling the information apart so I can go through it piece by piece and sort it out to make any kind of sense to me. This shit fucking sucks and I know I have to keep this new development to myself so no one finds out. The guys are hiding it for a reason and until I know what the fuck that is, no one including Brock will learn what's taken place today.