My parents must think I’m out of earshot because I hear them angrily discussing something again. I hear my name. I hear Bram’s name. I can’t help but walk closer to try to figure out what they’re saying.
“I told that bastard not to call her again, and I told him exactly what would happen if he did!” My father’s hushed but clearly angry voice echoes even when he’s trying to whisper.
“Good. I wish I had been awake when he called. I would’ve given him a piece of my mind too!” My mother’s voice is just as angry.
Alarm bells go off in my head. Bram called? I check my phone again. Nothing… That doesn’t make any sense. Did he call my father?
“When did Bram call?” I walk around the corner, putting myself in the conversation whether they want me in it or not.
“You don’t need to worry about that!” My father takes a step toward me.
“If he wants to talk to me…” I stammer.
“No, absolutely not!” My mother takes a step forward and shakes her head. “You will never speak to him again!”
“Over my dead body,” my father growls under his breath.
I finally see it—his rage, his anger. There it is. That’s the man who knows how to make me cower. My mother’s eyes narrow into the same disappointing glare that I’m so used to seeing.
Last night was an illusion. They drew me in and now they’re closing ranks. It’s me against them, and I feel like a little girl who’s being put in her place.
“He took advantage of you, Kiana.” My mother folds her arms across her chest.
“He’s a grown man, and you’re barely more than a child!” My father’s words seethe across his lips.
Here I go again. I’m getting backed into a corner. I don’t know how to come out swinging. I don’t know how to fight.
“I’m disappointed that you didn’t have better sense.” My mother shakes her head.
Disappointment.
“We raised you a hell of a lot better than that!” My father’s words turn into a snarl.
Anger.
This is the life I tried to escape. This is what made Bram’s arms are so damn comfortable. They know how to strip me bare, tear the innocence off my bones, and leave me exposed to their predatory ways.
They inflict emotional damage instead of physical pain.
“Mom…” I look at her for an instant, then lose my nerve. I look down to the carpet. That’s the direction I usually face when I’m being scolded.
This is what I escaped from. Why did I think it was going to be any different? I actually believed they were trying to be the loving and caring parents I dreamed of having. They aren’t. If I want to talk to Bram, then I’m no longer living inside the victim illusion they created, so I have to be destroyed.
But I won’t be.
I didn’t come so far to regress into the same scared little girl I used to be.
“You need to go to your room, Kiana.” My mother points. “You know what happens when you upset your father.”
“Oh, I’m past the point of being upset.” He shakes his head angrily.
I begin to tremble. I’m not emotionally prepared for this, but I don’t have a choice. In Bram’s arms, I found the strength of independence I fought desperately for. I won’t take a single step backward. I should have rushed to Bram’s side instead of running away.
God forgive me for what I’m about to say. My parents never will.
“Do you know where I was when Bram found me?” I feel a chill sweep through my body, and every muscle quivers as I force the words out.
“What are you talking about, Kiana?” My mother gives me a confused stare.
“I was on a stage—taking my clothes off for strangers.” My throat tries to close up, but I keep going. “I was a stripper.”
“He made you do that?” My father’s eyes flash with rage. “I’ll kill him, goddamn it!”
My mother doesn’t say anything. She’s processing what I said. My father has entered denial. He’s got an outlet for it—an easy one.
“No, Bram didn’t make me do it.” I shake my head. “I chose to get on that stage because it was the only way to pay Hudson’s debt. It was the only way to save his life.”
“I thought you took care of Hudson’s debt.” My mother looks at my father in confusion.
“I…” My father blinks a couple of times.
“He did—until he couldn’t afford to keep paying Mr. Diaz.” I’m in full attack mode, I might as well get it all off my chest. “What was the plan anyway, Dad? Just forget you had a son until you had to pay for his funeral?”
“Lawson!” My mother’s attention is on my father now, and he’s the one who looks like he’s backed into a corner.
“No, I—I was trying to find a way to come up with the money.” It’s the first time I’ve ever seen fear in my father’s eyes. It’s a strange look.
“You didn’t go to Mr. Diaz and sort it out.” I take a step forward. “I did. I made the deal, and I found a way to make the money.”
“I was going to…” I can’t tell if my father is lying or if he disconnected from the situation entirely. Whichever it is, my mother obviously didn’t realize how serious it was.
“Then one day, Bram walked into the club.” I decide to press on. I’ve said so much already, and I need to say the rest. “He saw me on that stage, and he didn’t judge me. He didn’t call me a disappointment. He did everything in his power to make sure I never had to do it again.”
“Of course he did; he was after something else!” My father has found another source for blame, as always.
“No, all he cared about was taking care of me. He met with Mr. Diaz. He made a deal that got me off that stage and saved
