Chapter 8

I ate slowlywhile Trent swallowed everything down quickly, his cheeks packed with food. My heart ached because watching him made me realize how badly I was failing at keeping him healthy and safe. I had over a year before I turned eighteen and could try to find an apartment for us.

Shit wasn’t looking good.

The last thing I wanted was to lose him to the system. We’d be torn apart, and I’d promised my mom I’d keep him safe. There was just no way I’d let him go. He was all I had left.

“So, tell me about yourself,” Alice said from across the booth. She was pretty. Small. Hair that cascaded just past her shoulders. She said she was twenty-one, so not that much older than me. Her clothes were designer, and she had that rich smell about her. Sweet perfume I’d only ever smelled when walking through a cloud of it at a department store in the mall, a place I rarely frequented but had gone to for Christmas to get Mom and Tia something.

Mom and Tia.

My throat tightened, the awful images still in my head of their bodies. Tia’s torn and broken, some sick fuck taking her innocence. The same happening to Mom.

I swallowed down the ache in my throat and chest.

“There’s not much to tell,” I said, using my French fry to poke another on my plate.

“Anson? I need to use the bathroom,” Trent said, swallowing his food. We’d been using a local gas station bathroom. Luckily, one of the guys that worked there during the night shift didn’t give us any shit on it and let us. Daytime was trickier, but we were making do.

I glanced to the bathrooms, which were well within my sight, and nodded.

He slowly stood, holding his stomach, and made his way to the facilities. The pain he was in was still evident as he limped slowly toward the bathroom, his pants sagging on his already slim frame.

I sighed, desperate to figure out a way to get us out of this mess.

“Are you living on the streets?” Alice asked gently.

I nodded, my throat tight.

“Tell you what. I’ll get you guys a place to stay until you get on your feet. Would that be OK?”

I blinked and slowly dragged my attention from Trent going into the bathroom back to her.

“What? Why would you do that?”

She shrugged and gave me a smile. “I just like helping people. I have the means, so it just makes sense to do it. You look like you could use a break.”

“I really could,” I whispered.

“So it’s settled. I’ll get you a room over on Front Street. There’s a motel over there that’s nice. It’s all ground level, so Trent won’t have to climb stairs or anything.”

I dropped my fry onto my plate. “Why are you really doing this?”

“I told you—”

“I just. . . I have no way to pay you back,” I said weakly. “At least not right now. Trent can’t be alone until he’s better, and even then. . .” I swallowed thickly. I had a fear of leaving him alone. What if I returned and whoever had hurt him came back? I was already struggling with the demons inside me at having left my family. I couldn’t count the number of times I told myself what a piece of shit I was for not leaving when Mom wanted to leave. If we’d have gone. . .

I ground my teeth together, trying to make the thought go away.

“I know a guy. He’s always looking for help. I’m sure he’d love to meet you,” she said. “I can set it up if you’re interested.”

“But Trent—”

“I’ll stay with him,” she said. “While you work. I’ll make sure he’s OK.”

“I don’t know.” I frowned. It all seemed too good to be true. On the other hand, I needed to provide for my family. My options were pretty fucking limited at this point, and she seemed nice.

“Maybe,” I murmured.

“Tell you what. Let’s get you set up at the motel with some more food and a shower. I’ll give you some time to think it over. Sound good?”

I nodded, not really having any more options.

“Great.” She grinned at me, pulling out a piece of paper from her purse and scribbling her name and number on it before sliding it to me. “Call me if you need anything. I’ve already paid for dinner. I’ll head over and set everything up at the motel. Just pick your key up at the front desk. I’ll stop in tomorrow afternoon and see how you guys are doing. Sound good?”

I nodded, my throat tight.

She got up and gathered her purse.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For this. It means a lot to us.”

“It’s my pleasure,” she answered. “I’ll see you tomorrow, OK?”

I said nothing but gave her another nod. She walked away, leaving me alone at the table.

Trent returned a few minutes later.

“Where did Alice go?” he asked, finishing off the last of his food.

“She had to go, but she’s getting us a room at a motel.”

Trent’s eyes brightened. It was all I needed to see.

I’d do whatever I had to in order to keep the hope alive in his eyes.

He deserved that after all the shit I’d screwed up in our lives.

There wasn’t a person in this world who could convince me that my family being harmed wasn’t my fault for not leaving sooner.

I’d not let it happen a second time. When opportunity knocked, I needed to just open the door and take it.

No matter what the cost.