Page 160 of When a Soul Cries

“Then fucking explain it!”

“A’ZARIA.”

Rome’s voice thundered through the phone.

I froze.

My lips parted, but nothing came out.

“I called you because you’re the only person I know she’s close to,” Rome said, still firm but quieter now. “So stop yelling long enough to hear me.”

My chest rose and fell rapidly.

Rome continued.

“Shit got bad, A’Zaria. She ran into her aunt yesterday, and it fucked her up pretty bad.”

My stomach twisted.

“Her aunt?”

“Yeah.”

“What happened?”

Rome went quiet for a second.

“That’s Sol’s story to tell you. Not mine.”

I swallowed hard.

My hand covered my mouth as tears immediately burned behind my eyes.

All those fucking phone calls.

All those *I’m okay*s.

All those times I asked if she needed anything.

“She lied to me,” I whispered.

Rome went quiet.

“She kept telling me she was okay.”

My voice cracked on the last word, and that was it.

I broke.

I bent forward, pressing my palm against my forehead while tears spilled onto my jeans.

“Fuck, Sol.”

I heard Rome breathe on the other end.

“She’s safe now,” he said. “Her and the baby ate. They slept. I got them.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.