51. Relic

Chapter fifty-one

Relic

I blocked Macie's number as well as those belonging to Lev, Demarius, and Melanie. I hated doing it. Broke my damn heart, but no one could save me now.

Not in a rush to return to the apartment, I took side streets, spent time at the creek where Marsh and I used to play as kids, and then as the sun began to set, I forced myself to head home. As I ambled near the parking lot, I saw something that shocked me, plain pissed me off, and any humanity I had left turned cold and died. Why shouldn't my whole world be turned upside down? Had it ever been right side up?

Lyra leaned against a black Mercedes. She held hands with Eric's top lieutenant and flirted with him. He kissed and touched her in ways that indicated he'd kissed her and touched her intimately many times before. And here I thought Lyra and I were close. Here I thought we were family who looked out for one another. Guess Lyra was a lot like Mom—she looked out mainly for herself. Guess I also found the mystery man she'd been seeing all this time.

"Know the first thing I'm going to tell Eric after I swear my allegiance to him?" I called out. "I'm going to tell him I don't want an asshole like you feeling up my sister."

Lyra jumped, Travis glared at me, and I didn't care if I made him angry.

"What did you say, you little punk?" Travis rolled his shoulders back like he was willing to take a swing at me. Let him. I still felt like beating the shit out of someone.

"Nothing," Lyra said quickly. "Relic said nothing." She moved to stand between me and Travis. Her eyes scanned me for bullet holes and blood. "Are you okay? I was worried about you. Where's Dad?"

I darkly chuckled. "Yeah, you looked real worried. Just yes or no, Lyra. Have you been working with Eric this entire time to get me to join his crew?"

She glanced away, and I had my answer. I motioned between her and Travis. "By my calculations, this means you've been in bed with Eric for what? Eight months?"

She pointed one finger into my chess and pressed. "I am not in bed with Eric."

"But you're in bed with his highest lieutenant, which means I'm the one you've been fucking over."

She slapped me. My jaw ticked with the sting. Lyra gasped then, her hands fluttering near my face, but I took a step back from her. "I'm sorry, Relic. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. It's been a rough day. I don't know what came over me. I don't—"

When she went to try to touch my cheek again, I snagged her wrist and placed her arm back by her side. I looked into her eyes so that she'd understand I meant every word. "Never touch me again. Never talk to me again. You want me in with Eric's crew, guess what? You got your wish. Tomorrow morning, I'm walking my ass over to Eric, pledging myself to him, and then I'm going to ask for an advance on my salary. When he gives it, because we both know that he will, I'm going to come home, pack your shit up, and leave it at the dumpster, and you know Eric will give me his blessing."

Her lower lip trembled. "You can't do that. We're a family."

"We're not a family. We're a train wreck. If you loved me, you wouldn't be in bed with that asshole over there, and you sure as shit would never be selling me out to Eric, but you did both of those things."

"Because I love you," Lyra shouted. "Because Eric is our family."

"That's bullshit," I yelled back. "You want Eric because you think that life is easy, but it's not! You're selling my life short so that you don't have to make the harder choices."

"You think it was easy taking care of you and Camila after Dad went to prison?"

"No," I countered. "I don't. I know it was hard, but you could have chosen differently. You could have chosen a life away from Eric."

Knowing it was a fruitless conversation, knowing we'd be screaming at each other in circles, I mumbled, "Fuck it," then stalked away from her.

"Relic," Lyra called out. "This isn't over. You and I will figure this out. You'll work for Eric, and you'll see it's the best decision."

I ignored her as I climbed the steps, went into the apartment, and slammed the door shut behind me.

***

A text came in from Zuri, and after the past few days, it was a real mind screw to remember my life once had some normalcy to it, at least for a few months. I received your text regarding no longer attending group therapy. On top of reminding you that therapy is a part of your court ordered agreement, I don't think you should stop. I've seen real improvements in your life. Surely, you must see them, too.

Me: I can't come anymore. It's what's best for the group. I need you to believe that. I do thank you for all that you've done. You're good at what you do. Keep going.

Zuri: Then don't come to group therapy. Come meet with me.

Me: I can't.

Zuri: Just once. Either that or I'll come to you.

I didn't want that, so I caved: Fine. Just once. When?

Zuri: Tomorrow. Name the time and I'll be here.

Tonight, Camila wanted to "read" me her bedtime story. Why the fuck not?

Too damn hot for blankets, I stripped them from her bed, and she leaned against the wall as she "read" to me. Most of the words she didn't know, but I had read the book so much to her she had the story memorized, even knew when to turn the page. I sat on the floor next to her bed and used my cell as a nightlight as we still didn't have power.

"When can we go back to Joppa's?" Camila asked. Joppa being Demarius' little sister.

Never. "School will be starting soon, and you'll make new friends."

"But I like Joppa and she liked me. We're best friends."

Yeah, Demarius, Lev, and Melanie had become my best friends, too. Macie, the girl that I loved. But how did I explain to a child that our life was too dangerous for the people we cared about? "We'll visit them again soon," I lied. What else could I do?

"Why are you and Lyra fighting?"

Because she betrayed me. "We see things differently."

Camila fiddled with her stuffed frog. "Is it because of me?"

"No," I answered immediately. "Why would you think that?"

"She doesn't pick me up early from daycare anymore, and she's not home much. I thought maybe she doesn't want me. She's forgotten me again. A couple times."

I lowered my head in frustration. "Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want you mad. She came home before you did."

I could strangle my older sister. "Lyra's been busy. It doesn't have anything to do with you."

Camila kept staring at her frog. "Are you going to get too busy for me, too?"

My heart shattered. "No. Never." But what would happen to her if I died? What would happen to her if I got arrested? I had to ask myself these questions because both were real possibilities that came with working under Eric.

"I'm hungry, Relic," she said softly. "Do we have any other food?"

I searched high and low, and we had nothing. "You'll eat at daycare and then I'll buy you a whole Happy Meal all to yourself tomorrow for dinner. I promise."

That didn't make her smile like I'd hoped. Instead, she handed me her book, settled onto her pillow, then reached out to me. I took her hand in mine, and she said, "Will you stay with me? There's a fifty percent chance of storms tonight."

Fifty percent it could all turn out okay. Fifty percent it could all turn to shit. That I understood. "Yeah, I'll stay." Where else was there for me to go?

***

Lyra left her car keys on the kitchen counter and the car in the parking lot along with a note that said she was staying at Travis' to allow me space until I was ready to talk. If she was giving me room until I no longer wanted to scream at her, I hoped she liked living with Travis for the next six months. I guessed the car was her, "I'm sorry," for fucking over my life.

I dropped Camila off at daycare and then drove over to the high school. My brain was so damn full that it felt like someone smashed my skull in with a crowbar. Would I ever return to school again? What would be the point? Just a daily reminder of people preparing for a future I'd never have. Would my work with Eric even fit around a high school schedule? More importantly, could Eric understand how I needed to take care of Camila?

Working for Eric wasn't like clocking in and out of a job. It meant being owned.

Thankful that the front door to the school was unlocked, I made my way down the hallway for Zuri's office. I didn't have a lot of expectations for today. Figured she'd talk a lot, I'd try to be polite with my silence, and then I'd leave. I'd thank her again before I left. I'd given her shit at the start of all this that she hadn't deserved. Zuri needed to know she could change lives. Not mine, but others.

I entered her office and froze at the sight of so many damn people—all of them adults. The door closed behind me and I spun to see Ms. FBI consultant herself leaning against it. Fight or flight mode kicked in, and I raised a challenging eyebrow at her.

"I bet you're feeling ambushed," Abby said.

I was.

"This is not an ambush. You can leave once you finish hearing what we have to say."

"That sounds like an ambush," I countered.

She shrugged like my opinion didn't matter. "Then it's an ambush. Sit your ass down."

From behind me, I heard a heavy sigh that I pegged as Zuri's, and she came up beside me. "It's not an ambush, but we all have something we want to discuss with you. Please, Relic. Sit. Listen. I promise it'll be worth your time."

I met Zuri's eyes, held her gaze, and as much as I wanted to bolt out of the room, Zuri had earned enough respect that I could give her a few more minutes. Besides, why would I be in a hurry to go see Eric? I gave a nod, took in each person as I slowly crossed the room, and dropped into my regular seat.

In the room were Macie's parents, Ariel's parents, Ms. FBI consultant, and Demarius' mom and dad, who had insisted I call them by their first names, Vanessa and Khamari. While all of this confused the fuck out of me, it was their presence that jacked me up the most. They had been generous and gracious with my sister and deserved a lot more than my attitude. "Hey."

They smiled kindly at me, and Vanessa said, "How's Camila?"

"Good. At daycare. She asked about Joppa last night."

"Joppa asks about Camila all the time," Khamari said with a chuckle. I gave him a half smile, but it was hard as hell as all my survival instincts screamed at me to bolt.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Every eye fell to Macie's dad, Noah. He'd been sitting in Macie's designated chair, arms crossed, looking at me like I was a puzzle he couldn't decide if he wanted to solve or throw out. He leaned forward, rested his elbows s on his knees, and rubbed his hands together. "Macie asked me to help you."

Realization dawned on me. "Look, if this is about the reward money, you can keep it. It was a pipedream to think that money could help me out."

"It's not about the reward money, though, technically, it is yours. You did help us figure out who was responsible for what happened to Macie, and every person in this room thanks you for that."

Everyone had this bright-eyed look like I was some hero, but not a single shred of me felt that way—heroic. My best friend had a hand in what happened. I trusted him and doing so almost cost Macie her life. When it was clear I had nothing to say, Noah continued, "Isaiah and I know what it's like to be in your shoes."

"I doubt that," I countered. "With all due respect, you might have grown up in my neighborhood, got into some nasty scrapes, and possibly had some beef with Eric, but the Eric you knew isn't the Eric I know now. My life is a lot more dangerous than yours."

"I'm not going to argue with that, but we faced our own problems. More importantly, we understand what it feels like to think you're on your own and that you have nothing or no one to fall back on. When I was your age, I had two brothers in foster care who I was damned determined to get out and raise as my own. The moment I saw you with your sister, you had my respect."

Honesty was etched upon his face, and I also saw how he understood this underlying primal need to care for my sibling in a world that would snap her in a heartbeat. It was weird to admit, but for the first time since walking in, I was listening. I shifted in my seat then mirrored Noah's posture. "Go on."

Noah glanced over at Demarius' parents. They shared a long look, then both glanced at me. "We'd like you and Camila to move in with us," Vanessa said.

I flat out shook my head. "I can't invite that danger into your house. In fact, you don't even understand the danger you'd be taking on."

"We do," Khamari said. "Don't be mad at him, but Demarius has been telling us about you from the start. He cares for you, Relic. Like you're his brother. Last night, when he told us what happened with Macie, how you put your life on the line for her and how the gang is threatening you, we connected with all the people you see here. We spent hours trying to come up with the solution that would work for you and your sister, and we know without a shadow of a doubt this is the right answer."

I scanned the room. "How did you get from Macie asking for your help to Demarius' parents asking me to move in?"

"Because we had offered to foster you and your sister," Rachel said. "We're already fostering Lev, so when Macie asked Noah to help you, he turned to us. We immediately agreed."

"But then," Vanessa chimed in, "after Demarius told us what happened with Brayden, we contacted Macie's parents to see how we could help. They told us their plan, and then we offered to open our home to you and Camila. While we're sure Isaiah and Rachel could offer you a fantastic home, it would be complicated for you to live with someone who is so close to your girlfriend. You're still so young, and so many things can happen in life. Maybe you and Macie will make it to forever, maybe you won't. But if you live with us, you don't need to worry about how your living arrangement will be affected by your relationship with her."

"We'll have to emergency foster you," Rachel added. "While Zuri and Mrs. Collins will fast track their foster parent application, it could still be a bit before they're approved. In the meantime, you and Camila will stay with us."

"What about Lev?" I asked. "And Ariel?"

"He'll be staying with us, too," Rachel answered. "We have a big home and have fostered many children at one time. As for Ariel, she likes it when our house is full. I think she feels lonely when it's just the three of us."

My mind swam and it was hard to focus as my gaze jumped from person to person. "Why are any of you doing this?" I glared at Noah. "Because Macie asked you to?"

Noah was quiet for a few beats, then he said, "Because I wish someone would have done this for me."

I stared at him. He stared at me. Was that hurt in his eyes? Noah rolled his neck. "I was fourteen when my parents died. The system separated me from my brothers, and then it was one rolling shit show after another. I got lost. I had no direction, and all I wanted was my brothers and a home. I can't fix what's happened to you, but I can help you find a way to stay with your sister, and I can help offer you a home. I understand struggle. I understand feeling like you work a million times harder than everyone else and things still never go your way. Let us help you and Camila. Let us help make it easier. Let us help give you a home."

Home. The word pierced my heart like an arrow.

The struggle. It was rooted in my marrow. So dug in that I had no idea if I could uproot it, let it go. My bones vibrated with confusion and fear. What would it feel like to not go hungry? What would it feel like to have heat on cold nights and air conditioning during blistering days? What would it feel like to not have to worry about getting shot?

Shot. I flinched. "I move in with any of you and I bring danger to your home."

"We're not going to let that happen," Isaiah said with finality. Ariel's dad was not someone I would ever fuck with, but did he understand my level of trouble?

"Take Camila," I forced out before I could change my mind. "Get her out of this life." As soon as I said it, my insides withered. Could I do it? Could I be separated from my sister? Could I live without her smiles? Could I live without her laughter? Could I live without her hand in mine? Could I live without seeing her day after day after day?

No. Fuck no. My throat swelled shut and my vision blurred as tears burned my eyes. I couldn't live without her. Without her, I'd die, but I loved her more than I loved myself. I loved her so fucking much that I could give her up. "Please." I tried to look at Demarius' parents, but I couldn't make them out past the tears in my eyes. "Please take her. Please love her. Please give her what I can't. Please."

"No, no, no, Relic." Vanessa crossed the circle and crouched in front of me. "We will take Camila, but we want both of you. Do you hear me? We want you both."

"I can't bring that danger to you. I'm poison. I can't hurt you. I can't do it."

Isaiah crouched beside her. "Look at me."

Feeling like a damn mess, I tried to fight the need to cry. I couldn't remember the last time I had, but being separated from Camila, giving her up was breaking me into pieces.

"Look at me," Isaiah repeated, and the bastard had such a commanding low voice that I did. He pointed over at Rachel. "When we were your age, Eric put a price on my wife's head. He had me shoved into a corner to steal cars for him. He kidnapped Abby."

Stunned, my gaze shot to Abby who still leaned against the door, watching me with an impassive expression.

"You want to know why Abby's an FBI consultant and not an agent?" Isaiah pushed. "She has a record. She was a drug dealer. Eric was her enemy. He had her shot."

"I wasn't just a drug dealer," Abby challenged. "I was a great drug dealer. And technically, my being shot was more of a group effort of my crew and his crew, but semantics."

"Not the point, Abby," Isaiah bit out.

"You've never been any fun," she said, and I ran a hand over my face as this entire conversation was sobering me up quick.

"Point is," Isaiah said with his eyes still glued to me. "We went toe to toe with that bastard, and we're still here. I know he seems big."

"He is big," I challenged. "He's more powerful than he was before."

"The bigger they are," Isaiah said, "the harder they fall."

"He sees me as his son," I spat, and even Isaiah went quiet long enough that I could see that it was sinking in I was no good.

As I went to open my mouth to beg them to take Camila, Vanessa said, "Then we'll have to make you our son."

Isaiah looked over at her with relief. "She's right. You decide to trust us with your and Camila's life, you become part of our family. I promise you he won't touch you or your sister."

"That's a promise you can't make because you can't keep it."

"We have power over him." Abby stared at the floor, boring a hole into it, her entire face hardening. "We've never used what we have over him, but we will now. Don't bother asking us what because we won't tell you. But believe us when we say he will not touch you."

My mind was so messed up, I didn't know what to do.

"Aren't you tired," Isaiah asked quietly. "Down in your bones, aren't you exhausted being on your own? Because you don't have to be. Let us be your family."

More tears burned my eyes, and my head fell forward into my hands. I didn't want to cry. Didn't want to sob like a damn baby, but I was so tired, so fucking exhausted, and I wanted to be seventeen. Why couldn't I just be seventeen? Why did my life have to be so hard?

Arms around me, Vanessa held me tight as my shoulders began to shake. "We have you, Relic. I promise we have you."