Chapter 3
By the time I reached Maya's bedroom, her closet was half empty.
Her suitcase lay open on the bed.
The lavender hoodie she had worn at dinner was gone.
So was her laptop.
Her wallet.
Her college acceptance folder.
And the small framed photograph of her biological father that she had secretly kept inside her dresser.
Nia stood in the doorway.
"She's really going."
I looked at the open window.
For one terrible second, I thought Maya had already climbed out.
Then I heard movement downstairs.
I ran.
Maya stood beside the front door, dragging a black suitcase.
I stopped several feet away.
"Where are you going?"
She looked annoyed.
"I told Mom."
"Who is picking you up?"
She pulled the suitcase handle.
"A friend of Dad's."
"What's his name?"
She hesitated.
"Reggie."
"Reggie what?"
"I don't know."
I stared at her.
"You don't know his last name?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Dad trusts him."
I took a breath.
"Maya, you're eighteen. I can't force you to stay."
Her expression changed slightly.
"But I'm asking you not to get into a stranger's car."
"He's not a stranger."
"Have you met him?"
She looked away.
"No."
I nodded slowly.
"Then he's a stranger to you."
Nia stepped beside me.
"Maya, please. It's almost midnight."
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm tired of everyone treating me like a child."
I looked at her.
"Then make an adult decision. Verify who you're traveling with. Ask questions. Don't let anyone rush you."
She bit her lip.
For a moment, I thought she might listen.
Then her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face hardened.
"He's here."
I looked toward the driveway.
A black SUV was parked outside.
Its windows were heavily tinted.
My stomach tightened.
Maya reached for the door.
I didn't grab her.
I simply stepped outside first.
The driver lowered his window.
He was a broad-shouldered man in his late thirties.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"I'm Marcus Bennett."
His expression shifted.
I noticed.
"And you are?"
"Reggie."
"Last name?"
"Turner."
I nodded.
"Where are you taking Maya?"
"Charlotte."
"To what address?"
He looked irritated.
"Her father has it handled."
I studied him.
"That's not what I asked."
He glanced toward Maya.
"Your ride's here. Let's go."
I stepped back.
"Maya, come here for a second."
She sighed.
"Marcus—"
"Please."
Something in my voice made her stop.
I spoke quietly.
"If you still want to leave after we confirm where you're going, I won't physically stop you."
She stared at me.
"But you deserve to know exactly where you're being taken."
Reggie opened his door.
"Look, man, I don't have time for this."
I turned toward him.
"Then leave."
His expression hardened.
"You don't get to tell me—"
"I absolutely get to tell you to leave my property."
Nia had already taken out her phone.
She stood near the doorway.
Reggie noticed.
Then he climbed back into the SUV.
"Tell her father she's being difficult."
He drove away.
Maya burst into tears.
"You embarrassed me!"
I looked at her.
"No, Maya. I asked a grown man for an address."
She shook her head.
"You don't understand!"
"Then help me understand."
She looked at her phone.
"Dad said you'd do this."
I felt sick.
"Do what?"
"Try to control me."
Nia stepped forward.
"Sweetheart, Marcus was protecting you."
Maya turned toward her.
"You're always on his side!"
Nia flinched.
I looked at my wife.
I knew that expression.
She had heard those words before.
Years earlier, Darius had accused her of the same thing whenever she challenged him.
I turned back toward Maya.
"Call your father."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Put him on speaker."
She hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I want him to explain why he sent someone who wouldn't identify your destination."
Maya stared at me.
Then she dialed.
Darius answered almost immediately.
"Hey, baby girl."
"Dad?"
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"Marcus wouldn't let Reggie take me."
A pause.
Then Darius laughed.
"Of course he wouldn't."
I stepped closer.
"Darius."
The laughter stopped.
"Marcus."
His voice was deeper than I remembered.
But the arrogance was familiar.
"Why didn't your driver know where he was taking her?" I asked.
Darius chuckled.
"Still playing hero?"
"Answer the question."
"She's my daughter."
"Then act like her father."
Maya gasped.
"Marcus!"
I kept my eyes on the phone.
Darius's voice turned cold.
"You need to remember your place."
I felt my jaw tighten.
"My place has been beside her for thirteen years."
"Only because I allowed it."
Silence.
Maya looked stunned.
I spoke carefully.
"What does that mean?"
Darius laughed.
"Come on, man. Don't act confused."
I looked toward Nia.
Her face had gone pale.
Darius continued.
"You've been paying for the privilege of raising my daughter."
Maya stared at her phone.
"Dad?"
He stopped.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Maya whispered, "What did you just say?"
Darius cleared his throat.
"Baby, that's not what I meant."
I watched her expression collapse.
"Did Marcus pay you to stay away?"
Darius hesitated.
"Your stepfather has a habit of twisting things."
"Answer me."
His voice sharpened.
"Maya, don't speak to me like that."
She began crying.
"Did he?"
Darius sighed.
"Adults make arrangements."
The words landed like stones.
Maya stepped backward.
"Arrangements?"
I felt her pain like it was my own.
Darius continued.
"Your mother made things complicated. Marcus offered money. I accepted."
Nia suddenly spoke.
"That's a lie."
Darius laughed.
"Hello, Nia."
Her hands trembled.
"You threatened us."
"Careful."
"You told Marcus you'd destroy our family."
"Watch what you say."
Maya looked between us.
"Stop."
Nobody spoke.
She stared at the phone.
"Dad, did you ever try to see me?"
Darius went silent.
Her voice cracked.
"Before I contacted you six months ago, did you ever try?"
He sighed.
"Baby, life is complicated."
Maya covered her mouth.
Then she whispered, "I waited for you."
My heart broke.
She continued.
"Every birthday."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Every Christmas."
Darius said nothing.
"I used to sit by the window because Mom said maybe you'd call."
Nia began crying.
Maya's voice collapsed.
"Did you even remember me?"
Darius finally spoke.
"Don't be dramatic."
Maya ended the call.
She stood motionless.
Then her knees buckled.
I caught her before she hit the floor.
She clung to my shirt.
For the first time in years, she cried like the little girl I remembered.
"Daddy."
My throat closed.
She held me tighter.
"I'm sorry."
I wrapped my arms around her.
I wanted to tell her everything was okay.
But it wasn't.
She had just discovered something no child should ever have to learn.
That someone she loved had treated her presence like a financial arrangement.
I stroked her braids.
"I'm here."
She sobbed.
"I'm so sorry."
I closed my eyes.
"I know, sweetheart."
Then my phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Unknown number.
STOP TALKING ABOUT THE PAYMENTS.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DARIUS IS REALLY DOING.
I stared at the screen.
Another message followed.
CHECK THE COLLEGE ACCOUNT BEFORE HE EMPTIES IT.
I looked at Maya.
She was still crying against my chest.
May you like
And I realized Darius hadn't come back because he suddenly wanted a relationship.
He had come back because there was something else he wanted to take.
