You Are Mine Little Sister (by Syra Tucker) novel Chapter 69

RALI

Two days later, Steven got back to me with an update on Creighton.

In his words: "Years ago, Creighton used to be a big name. Old money. He hosted flashy charity auctions where items were bid on. Your bracelet probably passed hands at one of those events. He supposedly keeps a private record of every item ever sold. But it's not public, Rali. Those records are locked in his personal collection. The only way to get that info would be to infiltrate his home or his trust. And either one would be a suicide mission."

"You've done enough for me, Steven. I wouldn't want to trouble you any further," I'd told him. "Just send me his details, I'll handle the rest myself."

"Are you sure, Rali? This man was and is still dangerous. I wouldn't want you going near him."

Finding my family was more important at this point. I could take the risk.

So, I convinced Steven to send me the details and then I told Veronica everything. She was surprised but happy that I had a hint on my family.

She offered to join in the search when I told her of my plan to approach Creighton.

*****†****†

For the third time, my alarm clock saved me from a living nightmare, which was my fingers massaging my clitoris while I was asleep.

I'd been moaning too, and maybe, just maybe, I'd have come had the alarm sound not woken me up.

The fact that I was masturbating unconsciously wasn't the worst part. What tortured me the most was the fact that I'd been dreaming of 'him.'

Him. The monster. The one I wished I was bold enough to kill.

I stood in front of the mirror, naked and disgusted—at my body, at my mind, at every cell that had betrayed me by dreaming of him.

Scrubbing myself under the shower was less about cleanliness and more about punishment. I lathered until my skin was pink, like I could somehow scrape him off me. I broke into tears.

True to his words, he'd been away for three days. I should feel relieved, bask in this freedom as much as I could. Yet here I was, missing the bars.

Something in me was clearly broken. And if I didn't get it checked, I'd soon start naming the cracks.

Dressed and ready for work, I faced the list on the wall. This time, I glared like I hated it.

I turned angrily and left the room.

"Hey, where you going? I'm just serving breakfast," Veronica said with surprise when I walked past her at the dining.

"I'm not hungry," came my grumpy reply without even looking her way.

I opened the door to a man who was just about knocking. Surprise folded into the lines of my forehead.

"Hello, Miss. Zerali Hayes, is it?" He asked with a polite smile.

Looking past him, I found a car parked outside, with a green ribbon wrapped on it.

"Yes?" My eyes stayed on the car.

"I was instructed to deliver this to you." He held out a car key. "It's yours, ma'am. The documents are in the backseat. If you'd like, I could walk you through."

Veronica appeared behind me. "Who is—Holy shit! Is that a new car?"

I stayed frozen. It was Veronica who ran ahead of me and the man gladly followed her.

No. It had to be a joke.

"Good fuck! This is a Bentley! It looks like it's the latest model, or something close. Are you kidding me?"

My legs finally remembered their job and carried me outside, but I still couldn't offer any words.

It was a black luxury car and looked expensive enough that I could never think of owning one—not with my present job, at least. Yet, it was right in front of me, in my name.

"Rali!" Misa gasped.

"Please, tell me that isn't true!"

"What do you mean? It's about damn time she got her engines oiled and revved. Good for her."

No. I couldn't be involved in this.

I was about to escape when a colleague showed up, miraculously saving me from their clutches. "The boss needs you in his office. Right now."

....

He was on a call when I arrived. I had to linger by the door until he rounded up.

He spoke briefly about Vlyrissa's dress, asking how far Evie and I were gone. I told him Evie seemed prepared, but I was still behind as Vlyrissa and I were yet to reach a conclusion.

He told me that'd be settled on my next visit to her.

Then, as expected, he dropped the disturbing question. "When will you be free to have dinner with me, Rali?"

It was more difficult giving him an answer now. "I honestly don't know, sir."

He reclined in his seat, his eyes sweeping over me. "Are you avoiding me? You.... don't want to hang out with me?"

I dropped my gaze, suddenly fascinated by the pattern on the tiles. "It's not what you think. It's just..."

I took a deep breath. "If I may speak freely, sir... I know where this is heading, and honestly, I don't think I'm down for a relationship. I just... have a lot going on with me right now—" I have a psychopath who's been haunting me. "—and being in a relationship, especially with my boss, is simply not something I'm down for."

The silence that followed felt like a trapdoor. I peeked up, only to find him staring. He had a very mean look on his face. I wasn't sure I'd seen him looking that way before. For some reason, it got me scared.