Iโm quiet. So is she.
I know that neither of us is speaking right now because weโre trying to
gure out a way to get out of this.ย ere has to be a way for her to get her son and not have to go through Trey to do it. And there has to be a way for me to get out of the situation Trey has just put me in without it a๏ฌecting Auburn and her relationship with AJ.
I watch from the backseat as she turns her attention to Trey.
โWhat do you think is going to happen now?โ she asks him. โYou think Iโm just going to forget the fact that you attacked me?ย at you destroyed Owenโs studio?ย at youโre framing him?โ
Donโt, Auburn. Donโt make him even angrier.
He turns to face her, and she doesnโt back down, even through his silence.
โIโll never love you like I loved Adam.โ
As soon as the words come out of her mouth, he jerks the car over to the side of the road. He lunges forward across the seat and squeezes her jaw, bringing his face inches from hers.
โIโmย notย Adam. Iโmย Trey.ย And I suggest if you want to continue being the half-assed mother you are to my nephew, youโll say whatever the fuck I tell you to say.โ
A tear slides down her cheek. Myย sts are clenched, and I want to beat on the barrier in order to get him to release her, but I canโt. My hands are cu๏ฌed behind my back and I canโt do a goddamn thing from this backseat to stop him. I bring my feet up and start kicking his seat.
โGet your hands o๏ฌย her!โ
Trey doesnโt move. He continues to hold on to her jaw until she gives in and nods. He releases her and slides back to his side of the seat.
She glances at me from her position in the passenger seat, and Iโve never felt more helpless. I see the roll of her throat as she swallows.
She pulls her knees up to her chest, and her tears begin to fall even harder. Her head rests against the back of the seat while her back is pressed against the passenger door. I can see just how much pain sheโs in. How scared she is. I scoot closer to her and press my forehead against the glass, trying to get as close to her as I can. I look at her reassuringly, wanting her to know that whatever happens, weโre in this together. She keeps her eyes locked with mine until we pull into the police station.
Trey kills the ignition. โย is is what happened. You called me to pick you up at his apartment because the two of you got into aย ght,โ Trey says. โAnd when I arrived, he attacked me.ย atโs when I arrested him. Got it?โ He reaches across the seat and takes her hand. โOwen needs to be behind bars where he belongs, and if I donโt make sure that happens, Iโll never forgive myself if you or AJ are hurt. Heโs the only reason Iโm doing this, Auburn. You want your son to be safe, right?โ
She nods, but thereโs something in her eyes. Something I know isnโt consent, and that scares me. I donโt want her to go in there and defend me.
โDo what he says, Auburn.โ
My door swings open, and Iโm pulled out of the car. Right before I look away from her, she makes aย st and holds it against her chest.
