Chapter 2 Unfinished Job

The moment we got back into the sitting room, Steve placed a phone in my hand. Not mine. His.

He did not trust me to use my own phone, and I did not argue. I knew better than to push my luck. I simply copied Rita’s number from memory and dialed.

The phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

I picked at my fingers, nails biting into skin as my heart hammered wildly in my chest. Every second that passed felt stolen. The call did not go through.

I let out a shaky breath, tears burning my eyes.

“We’ve been at this for fifteen minutes, Indie,” Steve growled, pacing the room. “Is she fucking coming or not?”

I swallowed hard and tried again, whispering a prayer in my head like it might somehow make a difference. Lila kept staring at me, her little hands wrapped tightly around mine. She had stopped crying, but her eyes were still red, still scared, still watching me like I held every answer.

The call rang at length.

I pulled the phone away, ready to hang up before disappointment crushed me again, when—

“Hey, Indie. Oh my God, I’m sorry,” Rita said, breathless. “I got caught up. What’s up?”

My chest caved in. Relief hit so hard I nearly sobbed out loud. I scratched my throat, forcing the lump down before I spoke.

“Sorry for disturbing you, Ree,” I said softly. “But I… I’m going to need your help babysitting Lila.”

“Oh,” she laughed lightly. “That’s fine. Lila is my spirit animal. Every time with her is fun time. When?”

“Like… now?” I asked.

Steve waved his hand sharply at me, telling me to hurry up. My stomach twisted.

“Oh shit. Now is not really—”

“Please, Ree,” I rushed in quickly. “It’s really urgent. We can come drop her where you are.”

Steve grunted in clear disapproval, but I ignored him. This was the only thing that mattered.

There was a pause on the line.

“Okay,” Rita finally said. “I don’t know what this is about, Indie, but I really hope you haven’t fallen into one of your troubles again.”

I leaned my head back, staring at Lila’s fingers curled around mine, so small, so trusting. I sniffed, then lifted my head and spoke again.

“It’s nothing like that,” I said smoothly. “I promise.”

The lie slid out easily.

“Okay, babes,” Rita replied. “I’ll text you the address. See you soon.”

The call ended.

“That was not the deal, Indigo. You disappointed me again,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

I almost rolled my eyes, exhaustion pressing heavier than fear. “If she came here, she wouldn’t let me go,” I said, my tone firm despite the tremor in my chest. “I’m doing you a favor. She only has to see me drop Lila off, and that’s it.“

His jaw tightened, teeth grinding as he stared at me like he was weighing whether I was worth the inconvenience. I met his gaze head-on, refusing to look away. I had already gotten what I wanted. At this point, I wasn’t scared of him anymore—fear had burned itself out, leaving only resolve behind.

Lila squeezed my hand, her fingers small and warm in mine. “Mama,” she whispered softly, eyes lifting to my face. “Am I going to Auntie Rita’s?”

“Yes, baby,” I said, forcing a smile as I knelt in front of her, my knees weak beneath me. I brushed her hair back gently, memorizing her face like I might need the memory to survive what came next. “You’ll stay with her for a little while. Just a little.”

Her lips trembled. “Will you come back for me?”

The question cut deeper than anything Steve could have said. I swallowed hard, pressing my forehead to hers. “Of course I will,” I whispered. “I always come back. You know that.” Another lie.

Behind me, Steve cleared his throat impatiently. “Enough,” he snapped. “Get ready. We’re leaving.”

I stood, pulling Lila into my arms and holding her tighter than necessary, breathing her in. This was why I lied.. And this was why I would do it all again if I had to.

No matter what it cost me.

---

To say Rita was suspicious would have been an understatement. The moment we stepped out of the car, her brows climbed so high they nearly disappeared into her hairline.

“Okay…” she drawled slowly, eyes flicking from the sleek black car to my face. “Since when do we arrive in expensive cars, Indigo?”

I smiled, tight and careful, and tugged Lila closer to my side. “It was just a favor from a friend,” I said simply. No extra words. No explanations. “Thank you for doing this, Rita. I’m sorry for dumping this on you.”

Rita waved a hand dismissively and crouched immediately, opening her arms wide. “You’re doing me a favor, babes. You know I love my little goddaughter.” She kissed Lila’s cheek, coaxing the first real smile I’d seen on her face all morning.

That smile almost broke me.

Rita straightened and glanced past me, her frown returning as she studied the car, the tinted windows, the stillness of it. “So where are you off to this early?” she asked carefully. “And why is Lila even awake?”

I glanced back at the car too. I didn’t need to see Steve to know his patience was thinning by the second. I could feel it, like a ticking clock at the back of my skull.

“I just have a job to finish,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I’ll be gone for a few days. That’s all.”

I pushed Lila’s box into Rita’s hands. “Everything she needs is in there. Her clothes, her inhaler, her school books. You remember what she’s allergic to, right? Nuts, the smell of boiled eggs, stuffy places—”

“I remember,” Rita cut in gently, her eyes narrowing on me. “You’re talking like you’re not coming back.”

She laughed softly after that, trying to lighten the moment. She didn’t know how close her words came to the truth.

I crouched in front of Lila before my face could give me away. Her bottom lip was trembling now, tears already gathering in her eyes. I opened my arms, fighting the urge to fall apart as I waited.

She stepped into me without hesitation.

“Be a good girl, pumpkin,” I whispered, my voice cracking despite my efforts. “Don’t give Auntie Rita any trouble, okay?”

She nodded against my shoulder, her small body shaking as her tears soaked into my clothes. I held her tighter, breathing her in, committing the weight of her, the warmth of her, to memory.

The car horn blared behind us.

I flinched.

I kissed Lila’s forehead, longer than necessary. Told her I loved her. Told her again. Then I hugged Rita, who was staring at me now with open concern, confusion etched deep into her face.

I turned away before she could ask anything else.

I didn’t look back.

Not when Lila started sobbing in earnest.

Not when her cries called my name.

Not when I climbed into the car and the door shut with a final, echoing thud.

Not when we drove off.

I didn’t let myself break in front of the men who had already taken so much from me.

They might have taken my peace.

They might have taken my freedom.

But they would never see me shatter.

As the house disappeared from view, something hard and unyielding settled in my chest. A resolve born from fear, sharpened by love.

No matter what happened to me—no matter where they took me, no matter what they did—I would come back for my daughter.

That was one truth I had never lied about.

And one promise I intended to keep.