Chapter 7

Once, his words would've hurt so much I couldn't breathe.

Now I just needed to find Mom.

I fought his grip and tried to run deeper into the cemetery.

"I'm not lying! Mom's here!

"Her ashes are gone. I need to find someone who works here. I need—"

He yanked me back, pain shooting through my wrist.

"Enough."

His grip was tighter than at the party.

I stumbled, slamming my knees into the stone steps.

My short dress left my skin exposed. The rough ground scraped it open, leaving drops of blood.

"Quit making a scene. You're coming with me!"

Alvin dragged me out of the cemetery and shoved me into the car.

Back at the party, he hauled me into the private room and threw me to the floor.

Everyone went quiet and stared.

He stood in the doorway, his face dark.

"Do whatever you want with her."

Then he turned to leave.

The guy from earlier whistled.

Shaking, I scrambled after Alvin.

"Alvin! Don't leave me here!"

I reached the door, and a stiletto slammed onto my hand.

The heel dug in, grinding against my skin. I screamed.

Callie crouched beside me, smiling. "Weird, right?

"You watched them bury your mom. How does she just disappear?"

My head snapped up.

She leaned close to my ear. "I took her ashes.

"What's in there now? Some dead dog I found by the road."

Blood rushed to my head.

Somehow, I wrenched free and slapped her.

Smack!

Her face snapped sideways.

Then her eyes filled with tears. "Alvin... I was just trying to calm her down. Why'd she hit me?"

I lunged at her. "It was her!

"Alvin, she switched out Mom's ashes! She just told me!"

Alvin stopped.

His eyes held nothing but disgust. "First you blamed Martha for the necklace. Now you're pinning this thing with your mom on Callie?

"Lena, you're sick."

He wrapped an arm around Callie and led her away.

"Wait!"

I scrambled up to follow.

Someone grabbed my ankle.

I hit the floor hard.

Then they dragged me back into the room.

The door slammed.

"Danford said we could do whatever we wanted. Why wait?"

I went pale, shaking. "No... Let go!"

I tried to crawl to the door, but they closed in.

Someone grabbed my arms.

Someone pinned my shoulders.

I bit a guy's hand as hard as I could.

He yelped, then slapped me several times.

"Should've played along, bitch!"

My ears rang. I screamed and fought.

Then someone's face changed.

"She's bleeding... She's bleeding!"

The room went silent. They let go and scrambled away.

I stared for a few seconds.

Then a sharp cramp ripped through my lower belly.

They meant me.

"What a fucking mess," someone muttered.

Stacks of cash landed on me.

"We didn't even do anything yet. Take it. Don't pin this on us."

They raced for the door.

Then I was alone.

The pain kept getting worse.

Curled on the floor, I gritted my teeth, grabbed my phone, and called an ambulance.

While I waited, I stuffed the cash into my purse with shaking hands.

I could barely stay conscious, but I counted it.

Ten bundles. Twenty grand.

For a second, I forgot I was bleeding.

'I can finally pay Alvin off.'

I woke up in the hospital.

The doctor gently explained that severe stress had caused a miscarriage. I'd been two months pregnant.

Sadness hit, then relief.

My child would never have to grow up unwanted by their own father.

The next day, I left, still aching.

I paid the hospital bill in cash, deposited the rest, and sent Alvin $16,000.

Then I blocked him everywhere and booked the next flight out.

The plane climbed into the clouds.

Finally, some luck that didn't come at a price.

I was gone for good. I'd never see Alvin again.