Javi waited outside the dorm with me as the driver pulled up. I forced down the wave of nausea threatening to rise and steeled myself. The very idea of walking into Mass was making me tremble.
“I don’t think I can do this.” The words escaped me as the driver held the door open for me.
Tía Teresa and the twins were already seated inside. They didn’t hear my confession, but Javi did. His brows furrowed in concern.
“I’m not ready. I can’t.”
Javi motioned for the driver to wait and stepped in front of me. “Okay. It’s okay. You can stay here. I’ll tell my mom.”
A sigh of relief escaped me. “Thank you. What about?” I held up my wrist.
He frowned. “Don’t worry about my dad. He won’t care if you miss Mass.”
The weight lifted from my chest. I threw my arms around Javi and hugged him, relief flooding me.
I didn’t have to go.
The window rolled down behind us and my tía called, “Javi? Rosa? Vamos. We will be late.”
Javi released me and gave me a nod of understanding. I wrapped my arms around myself and watched as they took off without me. I stood on the sidewalk and glanced up at the cloudless sky.
“I’m sorry, Papi. I can’t do it… not yet,” I whispered to the air.
The car disappeared and I turned to go back inside when my eyes met a still figure. Tío. He stood across the street outside of the office building. I couldn’t get a good look at him from the distance, but I had a feeling he would be at my door in an instant.
I tried to leave, but my legs were frozen. My eyes shot back to Tío’s. He held me there as he walked over, taking his sweet time.
My hands curled into fists, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get my legs to move. I couldn’t get any sound out either, but in my head, I was screaming every obscenity I could think of—both Spanish and English.
Just a little closer and I could punch that smug smirk right off his face.
“Why aren’t you going to Mass?” he demanded as he walked up to me.
I glared at him. “Why aren’t you?”
My eyebrows shot up. He released the hold on my mouth. I grinned, ready to let him have it.
“I’m working on your father’s case. We’ve caught wind of more shifter activity in the outer Sonoma territory. If we follow that trail, it could lead us to your father’s killer.”
His words were like a blow to my gut, wiping the snark right out of me. Manny.
Tío glanced at the empty street and sighed. “We can continue this conversation elsewhere. Or another time. I have much to do.”
I swept a hand over my legs. “Can’t go anywhere until you release me.”
“If I could trust you not to run off, I wouldn’t have to compel you. It’s tiring, you know. To keep this bond going.”
I scoffed. “Tiring? Are you serious? So sorry chaining your niece and mind controlling her is so taxing for you. I’m just as tired of this stupid bond so why don’t you do us both a favor and end it.”
His eyes turned murderous. “You’re lucky no one can hear us right now, Rose. If you ever want a chance to be free again, do your part and do what you’re told. I can’t keep you safe if you won’t listen.”
Fury lit inside me. I wanted to scream at him, strike him, but my body was paralyzed once more. Instead, I fumed, glaring as he started walking away from me and back to the office building.
The bastard.
I couldn’t ask him any more about Manny or call him any of the names I wanted to. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that he released me. Still fuming, I blinked back the angry tears.
Do my part and do what I was told? I don’t think so.
Before I realized what I was doing, I had made it past Phoenix House and was passing the upperclassmen dorms and their class building. Across the street, the gardens and guardhouse stretched before me.
My heart pounded in my ears. What was I doing? Was I really about to leave? Just like that with nothing but the clothes, which weren’t even mine, on my back?
It was stupid. I needed to go back and get my stuff, but my anger and fear drove me forward. Tío’s words repeated in my head.
Do what you’re told. Do what you’re told.
No. I had to leave. Get out. If I didn’t, I’d be forced to be a pawn in his sick mind games.
I was done.
15
The guardhouse was smaller than the student dorms, but still bigger than the average size house. Stark white stucco and tan tiled roof made it look more inviting, and homey than it was. Although the guards patrolled the campus, they mostly kept to themselves and didn’t make any problems for us.
Now, I was about to become a problem for them.
Squaring my shoulders back, I scanned the gatehouse. No cars were coming in or going out so the guards on duty were inside, watching the cameras. I glanced at my bracelet. I’d gotten that far. Would it stop me now?
Just act casual.
I walked up the side door of the gate and tried to do just that. My heart pounded against my ribcage. One of the guards stepped out of the guardhouse and waved to me. I waved back and dug my hand into my skirt pocket to pull out my student ID to scan. I held my breath as I waited.
Green light.
It worked. I waved to the guard again and pushed the door open. I was out.
I was free.
The door slammed behind me, startling me into action. It was time to go, but where? I could hardly believe my luck that the cursed bracelet let me get that far. Maybe my tío, assuming I’d be going to Mass, forgot to restrict my movements.
A smile spread on my face
