“Celina!” Jessi banged on my bedroom door a few times, causing me to jolt upright from my chair. Without waiting for my response, she barged in. “What are you up to? Homework?”
“Yes, I want to finish quickly so I can spend time with my mom. If you’ll excuse me…” I motioned towards the door, hinting for her to leave. Instead, she leaned against the doorframe, sizing me up.
“Dad wants you in his office,” she said, catching me off guard.
“Why?” I spat back, wary of the request.
“How should I know? I’m not psychic,” she rolled her eyes, gesturing for me to follow her out of the room. Reluctantly, I did.
As I passed her and closed the door, she whispered, “Can you help me with the homework later?”
Her tone was so pitiful it was almost comical. “Really?”
She rolled her eyes again, avoiding my gaze. “I don’t get most of it. But if you don’t want to, fine. I’m not begging.”
“How about saying ‘please’?” I teased, trying to suppress my smirk. If she hadn’t been such a pain since I arrived, I would’ve gladly helped.
She repeatedly shook her head, looking like she was on the brink of a meltdown. “Come on, Celina…”
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “Alright, after I talk to your father, come to my room. I’ll show you how it’s done.”
She turned away, defeated. But before disappearing into her room, I heard a faint whisper, “Thank you…”
“Did you want to see me?” I asked as I pushed open the door to Dave’s office. He immediately stood up, as though a gun-wielding thief had just burst in.
“Didn’t anyone teach you to knock?” He circled his desk, keeping his gaze fixed on me in an attempt to be intimidating. The image of a lion sizing up a gazelle, ready to pounce, flashed through my mind.
“I assumed if you called for me, you wanted me in here, right?”
Every time I encountered him in a room, my skin crawled. The man had threatened me. How was I supposed to react? But today, of all days, his presence felt particularly menacing.
My aunt wasn’t at home. I suspected she might be seeing someone, and chances are, he knew, but it seemed not to matter to him. It’s clear there’s no love lost between my aunt and Dave; money is probably the only thing keeping her here, and maybe Jessi.
“Sit down…” He gestured to the chair opposite his. I hesitated for a moment before taking a seat, trying to gauge his intentions. “I assume you know that it was my idea to bring your mother here…”
I knew there was a reason Dave brought her here. He wouldn’t do anything for my aunt’s sake, let alone mine. I could feel my face going numb, a sensation I always got when angry. I imagined the flush on my cheeks was becoming more pronounced to him.
While I had no direct evidence of him being violent or committing any crime, I sensed he was a bad seed. I was terrified of what he might do to my mother. “Yes, I’m aware.”
He smiled, the most sinister grin I’d ever seen. He let out a chuckle and shook his head before refocusing on me. “Aren’t you even going to thank me?”
I lowered my gaze to the floor, unable to bear the intensity of his stare. My hands gripped my thighs tightly, pressing down, attempting to quell my rising anxiety. “Thank you, Dave.”
I tensely watched his steps drawing nearer to me. I didn’t lift my gaze by an inch, just focused on stealing glances at the door to my right, gauging how quickly I might flee the office should he try anything.
His shoes soon entered my line of sight. Dave began to bend down until his face was unsettlingly close to mine. “You’re so innocent, Celina.”
Suddenly, the chair beneath me felt too small, and I felt trapped.
“Why did you call me in?” My voice was barely above a whisper, my breath shallow. I was scared.
“Do you know someone named Donovan?” He threw out unexpectedly.
My heart skipped a beat.
He let out a sigh, feigning disappointment, then rose and began pacing the room. “Of course you do… Right?”
When I didn’t answer, he moved quickly towards me. My instincts screamed at me to rise and run, which I tried. I attempted to dodge him, but his hand clamped onto my arm, shaking me. His face had transformed into one of rage.
“You answer when I talk to you!” He yelled, dragging me back to the chair I’d been seated in moments ago. “Understand?”
It was confirmed: he was violent. Fear consumed me. My instincts said I needed to flee by any means necessary, but there was nothing in reach to strike him with and escape.
“What do you want with Donovan?” It was all I dared to ask. How did he know him?
Clearing his throat, as if he hadn’t just exploded in anger, he began with his questions. “Are you two still friends? Because I haven’t heard from him in quite some time.”
I couldn’t make heads or tails of what was unfolding. “You knew him?”
“Yes, I knew him, though he didn’t know of me. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him since…” Dave suddenly slammed the desk beside me, causing me to jump. Tears welled up in my eyes. “He used you like the little whore you are!”
I pushed him with all the strength I could muster, trying to make another escape. But he was stronger and faster than me. He cornered me against the door, and my tears began to flow.
“Scared I’ll do to you what Shawn did?” He whispered, pressing his forehead to mine. I could feel his repulsive breath and struggled to free myself, but to no avail.
He knew about my past life. He knew everything.
In a desperate bid for safety, I screamed, but within seconds Dave seized both my hands with one of his own, using the other to cover my mouth. “Calm down. I’ve never been one to force someone into sex. I don’t need to. But do you know what I also don’t like? Losing millions of dollars.”
He shook his head side to side, lips pursed and eyes wide as if unhinged, seemingly trying to discern if I understood his last statement.
“You really are an idiot,” he remarked, finally releasing me and stepping back. “I’d suggest you don’t try to run again. You’ll want to hear this.”
I knew I needed to run, but something held me back. I wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Donovan, your friend, broke into my office several times. Did you know that?” he asked, leaning against his desk.
I simply shook my head in response, and he continued, “Right. While you were asleep, that’s what he did-broke in. He exploited my absence during business trips to come here night after night looking for information. And since you’re such a fool, I know you’re not in on it. He just used you.”
This couldn’t be true. He didn’t use me. He’s just a broken boy who didn’t know how to handle us, but he couldn’t possibly…
Dave settled into his chair, quickly typing on his computer. He then swiveled the screen for me to see.
The footage showed Donovan leaving my room and walking down the hallway. Dave pressed a key to switch the camera angle, now displaying Donovan forcing the office door open. The video’s speed fast-forwarded until it captured the boy I thought I knew exiting with some documents and re-entering my room. “He stole crucial papers from me. He’s linked to the theft of one of my shipments.”
I shook my head repeatedly. Processing all of this was overwhelming. God, just moments ago, I was studying in my room, and now I’m here, feeling threatened and shattered for the umpteenth time in my life. There’s hardly anything left of me…
“He’s a drug dealer. Do you deal in that too?” My voice was void of emotion, now numbed.
“He works with rival groups. He’s not just any small-time dealer,” he informed, bringing his hands together in a clasp and grinning at me. “You want to keep your mother safe, don’t you?”
I nodded, and it hit me-moving to this city was my biggest mistake. Or more precisely, crossing paths with Donovan was.
“You’ll need to get me valuable intel if you want her out of harm’s way.”