Page 27 of Kael

"No. No, Bria. I'm not doing this." She turned to face her friend, tears brimming in her eyes.

Bria looked at the shirt in her hands, then at Maya, and then at the door.

"Get dressed," Maya said. "We're leaving."

Bria didn't move. "Maya, I can't."

"Why not?"

"I can't just—" Bria's voice cracked. "I can't just leave."

"Why not?"

"Because he is the only one who can see me through this."

Maya stared at her. "Bria, that's not—"

"It is." Bria's voice was stronger now. "Everyone else—you, my parents, all the doctors and counselors—you're all too easy on me. You feel sorry for me. You treat me like I'm made of glass, and I take advantage of you all."

Maya shook her head. "That's not true—"

"Yes, it is." Bria stood up, her hands trembling. "You coddle me. You tell me everything's going to be okay. You give me space to fail. And I love you for it. I do. But it's not what I need. I need someone who won't let me fall. Someone who'll catch me before I hit the ground. Someone who'll push me when I want to give up. Someone who'll tell me the truth even when it hurts. Someone I'm fucking terrified of."

She looked straight at Maya. "Kael holds me accountable. He makes me fight. And I need that."

Maya stared at her for a long minute, assessing her. Then she threw her hands up. "This nigga done kidnapped your common sense."

She turned to face me. Tears were brimming in her eyes, but she put on a brave face. "I see you put a little weight back on her. You got her hair and nails done. So I ain't gonna say nothing now since she's taking up for you. Go make us breakfast, simp. You're damn near as bad as Caine."

I watched her go over and pull Bria into a hug before I walked downstairs.

Chapter 16

Six Months Later

Bria

One hundred and eighty-two days of waking up in the same bed. Of eating three meals a day. Of watching the mangroves sway through the barred window that no longer felt like a cage.

I was sober.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, studying my reflection. My cheeks had filled out, and the shadows beneath my eyes had faded. My hair—once brittle and thin—now fell past my shoulders in soft, healthy waves. I'd had it trimmed last week when Rosa took me to a salon in the city, Kael's men following at a distance.

The girl staring back at me was almost a stranger. I had been on drugs since I was seventeen.

I ran my fingers over my collarbones. They were still visible, but not sharp anymore. My skin tone had evened out to a warm nutmeg brown instead of ashy grey, and my body was learning to hold weight again. I remembered being thick like Maya and wearing matching outfits back in the day.

A chuckle slipped past my lips. I loved her like a sister. I was glad she wasn't mad at me about the Caine incident anymore; I didn't know what I'd do without her. I had known her for so long, and we'd both gone through so much. Malachai had helped her back then, just like Kael was helping me now, and wecould both be healthy together. I felt like my sobriety would stick this time.

I sighed and ran my hands down my hips. I was healthy, beautiful, and ready for coffee.

I pulled on a matching navy blue silk short set Kael had laid out for me. Who would've thought I'd let a man dress me? I had a closet full of clothes he'd picked out.

The kitchen smelled like coffee and bacon. Kael stood at the stove, his back to me, wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up.What is this, some mob shit?I thought.Rolled-up dress shirts instead of just wearing a short-sleeved one.I was going to ask him about it one day.

Today, though, I just wanted to watch him.

I leaned against the doorframe. He gave me ten seconds.