Chapter Three

“ i have to go,” I choked out, already halfway to the door.

“Khi, wait! I’ll come with you,” Zion said, dropping the spatula. He looked genuinely worried, his Harvard high completely gone.

“No, It’s fine! Stay, eat,” I yelled, not looking back. Ran before Zion could move.

I practically dove into the car. It looked like it had seen better days. I turned on the car, the engine purring to life as I zoomed off.

My mind was spinning. 20 minutes later, I pulled up the station. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely turn the key off.

I walked inside, the smell of stale coffee and floor cleaner hitting me. “Khione Kay,” I told the front desk. “I was asked to report.”

A police officer stepped out, his voice matching the one on the phone. “Ms. Kay. Your brother was arrested for—“

“Cousin,” I corrected him quickly, my voice sharp.

Keisel. Here we go again. He was older but apparently needed saving than I did. I hated how reckless he was. His name on that report made me mad at mom for being so nice.

He was her sister’s son. Her sister treated her like trash, but when she died, my mom took Kiesel anyway. She did it knowing we were barely surviving, working herself to the bone while this idiot— who was supposed to be grateful—just kept dragging us down.

Standing there, bruise on my head, lies in my pocket – how much more?

Didn't want to know what he did —another bar fight, something stupid. Called me, not mom, so it couldn’t be that bad. If it were truly life-ending, they would’ve tracked her down at the hospital where she was pulling an extra shift. This was just another “minor” fire I had to put out so she wouldn’t have to.

“How much is the bail?” I asked, my voice sounding hollow in the quiet station.

The officer looked down at his clipboard, flipping a page. “Five hundred dollars. Cash. Since he’s a repeat offender, the judge wasn’t feeling very generous today.”

Five hundred dollars.

I almost laughed, but it felt more like a sob. To the Graves, five hundred bucks was a pair of sneakers or a nice dinner out. To me, that was the money I’d been secretly saving for my community college textbooks. It was 2 weeks of groceries. It was everything.

I leaned against the wall, head throbbing. 300 naira in my account – if I used it, no rent. If I didn’t, Kiesel’s in a cell, mom’s heart breaks.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it put expecting Zion to be blowing me up with “Where are you” texts.

But it wasn’t Zion. It was a text from an unsaved number I knew by heart.

Noah: How much do you need?

My heart stopped. I looked around the station like he was standing right there, watching me drown. He knew. Of course he knew. He’d figured it out.

I stared at my screen, thumb hovering. Replying meant owing him – after that bathroom, no way.

I wasn’t going to reply. I couldn’t.

“I’ll figure it out myself,” I whispered to the empty, depressing air of the waiting room. I’d sell my old guitar, or maybe pick up extra shifts at the dinner—anything but becoming another thing Noah Graves owned.

I opened my messages, my thumb trembling as I searched for Xailia’s number. She didn’t have much, but maybe she could lend me the two hundred I was missing. I started typing, my vision blurring with frustration tears. Hey X, I am in a really tight spot and—

Before I could hit send, Phone vibrated hard. Green banner popped up. A banking alert.

Zelle: You have received $5,000.

My jaw literally dropped. Five thousand? That wasn’t just bail money. That was rent, groceries, and a whole year of community college tuition. It was a lifeline and a noose, all wrapped in one.

I started at the money on the screen, my stomach turning over. He hadn’t even waited for me to ask. He hadn’t even given me the chance to say no.

I looked at the officer, who was watching me with a boredom expression. I had the money. I could get Kiesel out right now and keep my mom’s world from crashing down. But as I looked back at the text from Noah— the one I still hadn’t answered—I realized the price of this cash was going to be way higher than five grand.