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Chapter Twenty One

Byron

“ M ijo, you need to stay strong.” My mother’s voice soothes me. In the darkness, my body hurts and I can’t move. “You are strong, a fighter.”

But she’s wrong, I’m none of those things. I curl my body in on itself, even though the blanket that covers my skin stings. The welts on my ass are burning, branding me like fire as I stifle back a cry.

I’m sorry,“ I whisper, and my mom’s arms envelop me. “Don’t be. I’m sorry that I failed to protect you, Mijo. Your father means well.” But the pain in my body from his beating is enough to argue her lies.

“I like girls, Ma,” I say. “I like girls,” I repeat turning to face her with tears in my eyes. My mother bites her lower lip as she cups my face. “I know,” she lies. “You are just confused.”

But I’m not, I know what I felt. I know what I wanted to do with Armando. It’s true what dad thinks of me, and I deserved to be beat. Maybe he can beat me into liking girls, into being normal. Maybe then he can have the son they both deserve, not one who’s picturing what it will be like to be inside a man, but one that can get hard from a woman’s tits. Instead he has me, his greatest shame.

I wake up covered in sweat,with my head pounding. I wince while slowly opening my eyes. My hand moves towards the source of pain. “Fuck,” I mutter, remembering everything that went down. Ren’s words, followed by his beating, reminded me so much of my father that I had locked up. The room smells of stale blood, sweat, and old cologne—Ren’s scent clings to the walls like a ghost that won’t leave. The ache in my ribs is sharp, each breath dragging against bruised lungs. The pillow beneath me is damp, not just from sweat, but also from tears I don’t remember shedding.

The sound of a car approaching, makes me move; every part of my body hurts, and I’m still naked. Using my elbow, I prop myself up, wincing with every move. That fucker has a mean kick, and I feel disgusting from all the sweat and blood. My vision blurs and I have to grip the bed frame to keep from collapsing. The sound of a car door opening causes my heart to flutter in my chest, not knowing what to expect. At this point, I didn’t know if Ren wanted to fuck me or kill me, so I stay alert. Or try to.

I hear the sound of the door to the cabin opening, then a familiar voice that sends chills down my spine.

“REN,” the voice calls out. I choke up, and then rage bubbles over. “Ren,” he calls again, his voice drawing closer. My jaw tightens and I clench my fists, ready to burst through the door and beat him to a bloody pulp. Then Ren wouldn’t have his leverage. She would be safe and I’d end it all. The element of surprise is all I got right now. Moving towards the door. it be just my luck that the bastard locked it, and in anger, I try to pry the fucking door open.

“Ren” Kevin’s voice calls from outside the door., He’s so close but there’s nothing I can do to force it open.

“Byron.”

I stop.

“Ah, it is you. He left you all alone,” he teases, clapping his hands. “I have to say, I was wondering when he would be tired of you, does it mean he left?”

But I say nothing, I just use the strength I have to try and rip this fucking door open and kill the asshole, but that causes him to laugh. “I’ll assume he has put you on time out, but where is he?” I still don’t answer as the door rattles, then his phone rings.

“Ah, my sweet piece of ass, your darling sister.”

My blood runs cold. The weight of those words sucks the air from my lungs. “If you know what’s good for her, I would suggest you remain quiet.” And I do. For her sake, I swallow my venom and poison myself.

“Hey,” her voice comes through and soothes me. “Did you make it to the trailer? ”

“Hey beautiful, I did but there’s nothing. Are you sure he didn’t run off with a secret lover?” he teases which causes a small chuckle from my sister before she sighs, I can picture her right now, pacing around the room biting her nails nervously.

“I went by the place where he went to his meetings,” she says nervously.

“I told you I would go with you.”

“I know but Johnathan, the guy that Byron befriended, hasn’t shown up.” I can tell she’s piecing things together, but not the biggest one, the piece of shit that her man is. Poor Gabriela sure knows how to pick them.

“Oh yeah? Strange.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said.”

“But hasn’t your brother been texting you?” And my heart sinks with those words, knowing now the true depth of Ren’s depravity and cruelty.

“He has, but I don’t know, Kev. Something inside tells me that something is wrong.” Kevin sighs and his voice sounds honest.

“I know, princess, this is why we are here. We will figure it out, I promise.”

She takes a deep breath in, “Well, okay, just hurry back. I need you.”

A tear slides down my cheek, and then another. My body trembles, my knees threatening to buckle. I rest my head on the door, wishing it would dissolve under the weight of my need. I whisper her name under my breath like a prayer, knowing she can’t hear me. If only I could say something—anything.

“I’m still here, Gaby,” I whisper to the wood. But there’s no answer, just the sound of her soft goodbye.

I listen to their I love yous and goodbyes,each word like a knife to the heart. A memory floods back—Gabriela at ten years old, holding my hand after our mother left for her third night shift in a row. “We’ll always take care of each other,” she whispered. And I failed.

“I will kill you,” I whisper, my hand resting on the door, as I pray for a miracle, but there’s nothing .

Kevin laughs. “Gotta survive Ren first. Well, let Ren know I stopped by. Stay strong, I got a tight pussy waiting for me.”

His words snap my restraint and I lose myself in the anger, not caring about the pain. I violently shake the door handle trying to open it. Quickly, I scan the room for anything that might break open the door, opting for a small wooden nightstand. I can hear Kevin’s footsteps and laughter getting further away.

Grabbing the nightstand, I hurl it towards the door. Anything I can get my hands on gets thrown at the door.

“REN!” I shout, as I exhaust myself throwing anything and everything at the door, but Ren doesn’t answer—neither does Kevin.

I’m hopelessly alone. Again.