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I can’t say it’s all me, although I can feel the strength and determination I’ve grown since being away from her. Adam standing behind me and grasping my hand is helping to fuel my fight against the monster who raised me.
Her eyes are wide, her expression hard to read with all the work she’s had done.
“You…you can’t do this to me, Harley. I won’t have enough income without your modeling! When you ran away, I had to start selling my handbags. People don’t even understand their worth and—”
“Ma’am, you need to leave now,” Adam finally says, his voice authoritative. “She said what she needed to say to you. Now, it’s time for you to go.”
He starts to walk toward Victoria, who begins backing away from his much larger frame.
Her voice turns desperate as she pleads with him, backing toward the door in her stilettos, “You don’t get it. I took her in when no one would. I fed her, clothed her, started her in a thriving business as an orphan with nothing!” She turns to me now, her face completely turned to malice, eyes blazing. “You’re an ungrateful little whore!”
Adam physically herds her out the door, slamming it once she is finally out. He pivots back to me, slowly approaching the bed. Without a word, he climbs in next to me, gathering me into his big, strong arms, and holds me tight against him.
I let him cuddle me with his addictive warmth and cedar scent. Tears begin to trace a path down my cheeks. I don’t know why they’re there, except that maybe the only mother I’ve ever known is finally out of my life for good.
I’m glad she is, but at the same time, my lonely orphan heart is still cracked open and bleeding.
He doesn’t say a word, and I’m so thankful. What could possibly be said after that? She’s a true monster, abusing and controlling children for her own selfish gain.
I finally feel the ability to speak returning to me. “When are we going back?” I’m ready to be home.
He leans back slightly, looking at my face as he brushes my tangled hair back from my face with care. “We…have to go to the police station, so you can give a statement. If you want to wait another day…”
I wave him off. “No, no, I’m fine. Let’s go get it over with.”
The orange brick exterior of the police station in Carbona brings back unpleasant memories. I’ve been brought in here for petty theft a few more times than I’d like to admit.
I glance at Adam, and he’s cool and relaxed. He’s probably the first boyfriend I’ve had who hasn’t seen the dashboard of a cop car from the backseat.
We climb out of the taxi after he insists on paying for it.
“Let me take care of you today, please?” he says as he reaches for my hand.
We’re both exhausted after a night in the hospital, but at least I got to shower this morning.
I give him a side-eye as we climb the steps.
“What if they arrest me?” I pull to a stop, letting go of his hand and crossing my arms.
He looks back, his forehead creased. “He said he wouldn’t worry about it. You were defending yourself—”
I cut him off, “I wasn’t talking about the gun. I was talking about all the petty theft charges and…”
His eyes widen a bit as he gapes at me from the step above.
“I’m technically still…maybe…a runaway.” I pause.
He starts to speak, “But you’re—”
“Seventeen.” I hold my breath after the admission, watching for his reaction. I signed the e-forms for the dorms and my classes with Victoria’s signature. I stole her social security and driver’s license numbers. The rest was a cake walk.
He jerks back slightly, looking over my mature body littered in tattoos, face in absolute shock, eyes wide.
“Maybe they’ll…arrest me,” he chokes out.
I bark out a laugh. “Why would they arrest you?”
I take another step back, my head beginning to ache. I press a hand to the tender spot on the side, hidden under my thick hair.
