Page 108 of The Echo of Forever

Did I pass out?

“Have you been taking your meds, ma?”

I sat up, and she took a step back, in nothing but her bra and panties, while touching her neck where I gripped mine.

“They want to hurt you,” she whispered, looking everywhere but at me. “I can’t let them hurt you.”

Clearly not taking her medicine, I thought, pressing my palms to my head.

She had to be in a manic state; it wasn’t the first time, and more than likely wouldn’t be last.

I never understood why her need to be protective heightened during an episode. And always directed at me, never Kai.

“What did you give me?”

She mumbled something I couldn’t understand and then got down in front of me.

“Listen to me, Forever…” She pushed my hands from my face and replaced them with her own. “You have to be careful. Don’t let your father trick you into anything, especially marrying that mixed boy. His eyes are evil.”

I took a deep breath, wrapping my fingers gently around her wrists.

“Ma, I can’t legally marry anyone…” I pulled her up with me and switched places, gently pushing her onto the bed. “And even if I could, it’d never be him.”

She let me lay her down and pull the blanket up to her neck.

“I have to get you some help,” I whispered, feeling her forehead with the back of my hand. “What happened this time?”

I didn’t expect her to respond and turned to leave, but she stopped me with words that really stirred the little girl still living caged inside of me.

“You don’t remember, but he’s hurt you before. Be careful, okay?”

My head spun for the second time today; I could feel myself falling, but instead of hitting the floor, a pair of arms I recognized caught me.

What the fuck did that mean!

CHAPTER 26

ECHO

“Take a ride with me…”I pushed open Oliver’s office door without hesitation, too caught up in my thoughts to pick up the sound of skin slapping skin before doing so.

Carmen screamed or moaned, but I was too busy laughing and shutting the door to differentiate.

“Glad to see you two holding strong,” I said through the door, trying to embarrass them more. “Bring y’all freak asses on, though. I want to check on Forever.”

The office door swung open not long after, with Carmen on the other side. She was tall like my baby, but about three shades lighter, and had flesh-colored freckles all over her face.

“What happened with Forever?” she asked, brow lifted as if I had no choice but to respond.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about her yet, but my brother clearly did. And out of respect for him, I decided to indulge.

“Her husband is a worrier and decided to pop up at her location,” Oliver said before I could get my shit off. “That’s what happened to Forever.”

Our middle fingers lifted at the same time, always in tune, no matter the reason.

“His words are true,” I said, looking down at the woman still waiting for my reply. “So, come take a ride with me in case my intuition and obsession for her are in sync.”

They were rarely disconnected when it came to Forever.