Chapter 2

Aubrey Delacruz

The sharp rap on the bedroom door startled me awake.

"Aubrey! Collin needs his laundry done for his interview! And the breakfast dishes aren't going to clean themselves!"

Jeanie's voice. 6 AM. Not a request. An order.

Kieran stirred beside me, pulled the blanket over his head, and said nothing.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Dark circles. Tired eyes. A woman I barely recognized.

Later that morning, Jeanie cornered me with a stack of bills. "Aubrey, dear. Collin needs a new suit for his interview. And he's got some parking tickets. Could you... float him some money?"

She named a figure that made my stomach drop. Five thousand dollars.

"That's a lot of money, Jeanie. I don't know if I can-"

Her smile vanished. "Aubrey, we're family. We help each other out. This is the least you can do if you want to stay."

Collin, lounging on the sofa, chimed in. "Yeah, Aubrey. Come on. Just this once."

I looked at Kieran, who had just walked in. He saw my pleading expression. He saw his mother's demanding one.

"Aubrey, it's for Collin," he said, shrugging. "He really needs this break."

I opened my banking app and transferred the money. Another chunk of my freedom, gone.

Kieran patted my arm. "You're the best, babe."

I walked to the dresser and pulled out a small locked box. Inside was the deed to my condo. One bedroom, one bath. Mine.

A delivery notification buzzed on my phone. The custom frame for my CPA certificate had arrived. I signed for it quickly and hid it under the bed.

Jeanie's head popped out of the living room. "What's that, dear? Another one of your silly books?"

"Just a delivery," I said, my voice even.

That evening, as I prepared dinner, I heard Kieran and Collin from the living room.

"She's such a pushover," Collin laughed. "Always gives in."

Kieran chuckled. "Yeah, well. Not like she has anywhere else to go."

The knife in my hand slipped, narrowly missing my finger.

Not like she has anywhere else to go.

I took a deep breath. Then another.

They thought I was trapped.

They were about to learn the truth.