You may leave.”Jasmine glances at me standing in the open doorway. She hesitates, perhaps wondering if it’s all right for me to be there, then quietly steps out of the room.The bed looks large and imposing, engulfing my father’s frail body. The machines by the bed hum softly, and their beeping is the only indication that he’s still alive. I move closer to get a better view, my stomach tying in knots as I stare at him hidden beneath heavy blankets despite the summer heat. My throat tightens, waiting for any sign of life, when his eyes suddenly flutter open.I catch my breath.Finally, I’m allowed to speak with my dad alone, and the sight of him ravaged by chemo twists my heart. I know Alfredo is doing the right thing by providing treatment, but I can also tell that my father is in pain.I sit in an armchair close to the bed, resting my hands on my lap. “Dad, are you awake?”He starts to cough, and I stand immediately, rubbing his back until the coughing fit is over.“Raise the bed,”

We sleep on opposite sides of the bed, and when morning comes, Alfredo leaves early while I stay in bed, blaming it lamely on the baby. Eventually, I sit by the window, gazing out at the lawn, but I don’t take anything in. My heart races as my nails bite into my palms. Yesterday when we were in bed, I thought Andrei would say it. There were moments when I thought I saw love in his eyes as he looked down on me. I wanted him to lose control and say it. I wanted him to say that he loved me, even if it was a lie and my heart will for once believe that I am not just a pawn juts like I was to my step mom and stepdad in the past. I want him to say it maybe it will help me believe he is different from the people taking me for a fool.Instead, he did everything I asked him to do. I demanded that he cross the line, and he did.A soft tap on the door breaks me from my thoughts, and Regina slowly opens it, peering in.“Come in,” I tell her. “Let’s talk.”The timid look on her face is replaced by

Like how you’re guiding my sister?” I ask, my voice a low challenge.Natasha’s eyes widen as she stares at me in brief shock. It’s a rare moment that I hope to remember forever. The moment fades, and she regains her composure.“Why would you think that?” she asks cautiously.I cut her off. “Stop, Natasha. There’s no other reason a person like you would spend time with a sixteen-year old girl. Regina is mesmerized by all the excitement and money. She thinks we’re playing gangster, and nothing can go wrong.”Natasha arches a brow. “You do me and your sister a disservice.”“So, I’m mistaken?” I ask, daring her to lie. “You’re not using Alvrado’s brotherhood naivety to the Alvrado’s brother advantage?”Natasha stares at me intently before finally responding. “You may not have been willing to come here,” she says sternly. “But now you’ve made a choice to stay as Alfredo’s wife. You’ve been given privileges for your loyalty. Your sister is also making the choices she needs to make to adapt

CharleneI tap on Regina’s bedroom door before going in, but I know she’s home, and more importantly, alone. I saw Atkins go into the garage moments after Alfredo, and he must have left in one of the Rovers. I keep telling Regina to stay away from him while ignoring her over-the-top eye rolls. I can only hope she’ll listen to my repeated warnings before Alfredo catches them. But I doubt she’ll listen to me.Regina is sound asleep on her bed on top of a pile of wrinkled clothes, paperback thrillers, and the enormous purple tote bag beside her. There’s hardly any room for her on the queen-sized bed.Her laptop is open, and the bright light from the movie playing casts an angelic glow over her face. A fluffy pillow is tucked under her cheek, and I smile as I watch her sleep. I smile at how messed up her room was , Her thick lashes press against her pink cheeks, and her plump lips are slightly parted as she breathes.I never had a nice little sister like this and I am glad I had Regina, I

We’ll wait in the panic room.” Alero stands inside the suite by a door I’ve never entered, though I knew it existed. I move away from him as if he wants to lock me away.I lift my chin, but my voice shakes. “I’ll wait in the spare bedroom.”Natasha silences Alero when he tries again. She guides him out of the suite and shuts the door. I know they won’t go far. I told the guards not to move my father, not out of spite, but because he’s too frail. And Regina decides to sit with me by the window. Her body isn’t sprawled across the straight-back chair. She sits upright, leaning toward the glass until her nose almost touches it. She’s not waiting for Alfredo but watching for Atkins.I’m scared Sara wasn’t lying.“You saw me, didn’t you?” I ask her. As Sara and I left the office earlier, I saw movement from the corner of my eye on the staircase. I didn’t dare turn to look, but whoever it was, they hurried out of sight.Regina stares out the window, not daring to turn her head, not even a li