slowly turning to see Joan asleep. She was confused at first, but it all came gushing down. She was a disgrace.

top crying already?" "We need to fix this situation."

uld forgive me?" She

u're lucky your sister isn't a

's Mar

our mother forbade her from visiting, but

erly, resting her b

with Mom.... Ju

doesn't want you home. You should come

would just remind me how bad of a choice I was with

, besides, Jonathan is out of the country on business and won't be

n't just leave. She was as Estrella as Marina was. There

arging myself." She took ou

an you at l

et's go

★

ere used to be warmth and comfort, a string of tension and uncertainty filled he

wild one-night stand with only d

er wedding ceremony by showing to the wor

ise to her face. "You? "What are you doing here?" She spat sl

the living room. "Do not worry about him, worry abo

h the air as wide-eyed D

s?" she brea

r of fact, Elvis has agreed to take you ou

r the horror welling up to find out it was some sort of document of

pered, shaking. "Y

ne it. You're no longer my

hed in the gut. She took one back

ion finally boiling over into

ed with triumph. "I've only just b

efore them glacially. "Leav

hing down. She couldn't believe that her mother w

lease," Da

on on her face. "You're

new she had no other option. Elvis had mani

cut through the silence.

ake. "How are you?" Marina asked,

d to compose herself. "I've been be

ent. "I'm coming to get you. W

and tears of appreciation welled in Darnell's

tone spewing from her mouth was venomous. "

leaded with her mother. "Mom, please

"You were a mistake, Darnell. A mis

onto the doorframe to keep herself upri

detached. "Jenkins, would yo

th Darnell's luggage. His face

mother, "Mom, don't

her back still turned to

staring intently at Darnell'

on of the door, the luggage following them

e connotations of a prison sentence. Darnell we

ody inches from hers.

te in her eyes, though her voice

leaming with something sin

n some silent communication, apologized. "M

for the cab, Elvis's presence in the room seemed to fill

As the car pulled away, Darnell saw Elvis stan

hat cab until it vanished into the nigh

ight, his second in command

ost merry. "She can't run forever, Louis. For now, just kee

brow. "You want her

s, it's better fo

inquisitive. "You

ell, and he sco

ore, following Elvis

d not leave Louis' mind that Elvis h

ally letting her go?"

stare ahead. "Just make sure she d

fell, and Louis knew better

s swam in her head: her mother's

dialed the number of Marina.

uring. "I'm on my way, D

t the thought. "Thanks, Marina. I d

apartment building, and Darnell steeled hersel

ll the time, his eyes were on