𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 || 𝘫𝘫 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬

𝐄 𝐈 𝐆 𝐇 𝐓

that evening, Aleena's POV:

That little kook shit. I'm still not done with him. I'm getting ready for a date with this guy, and after diner Sir says blandly I have to wait until my 16th birthday to get the job. I should have known he only wanted to take me out on that goddamn date.

And still, what does the fucking blonde head think? I'm not some toy that he can play with, and turn on and off whenever he wants. I don't even know where to begin now. I have to ignore them, ignore that prick.

Just then, while my thoughts, Ward takes a seat next to me. I smile at him, trying to maintain my composure.

"Aleena, wasn't it?" he asks, looking at me curiously.

I nod, "Mhm, Aleena Routledge."

The man chokes on his breath and his face suddenly turns serious. "Another Routledge?" he mutters awkwardly under his breath, unsure how to proceed the news.

I smile uneasily, sensing his discomfort and decide to come clean. "Yes, I'm John B's half-sister," I admit cautiously.

Ward's reaction is strange. He looks like he's hiding something, and I can't help but feel suspicious. "So, you came back from Colorado with your mother?" he asks, trying to gather more information.

I'm taken aback by his knowledge. "Yes, I came back alone," I reply, still unsure how he knows all of this. "How do you know I live in Colorado?"

Ward scratches his forehead, clearly flustered. "Big John told me a lot about the situation. We were...good friends," he stammers.

I can sense that there's more to his story, and I press him for details. "Were? Do you know anything more about his disappearance? Is he dead?" I ask, desperate for answers.

Ward becomes even more nervous, his leg bouncing up and down. "No! I don't know. He was a good worker. The last time I saw him was on my boat," he says, avoiding eye contact.

I feel frustrated and disappointed. I came back to the Outer Banks to see my brother and find my dad, but it seems like everyone is keeping secrets.

"Why did you come back? Is something wrong with John B? Does it have anything to do with Big John? Is it something with your mother?" Ward fires off a series of questions, making me even more suspicious.

Why is this man so interested in my life and nervous at the same time? Why the hell should he be so curious about my family? There is nothing so special about us.

Suddenly, Sarah's little sister enters the living room and interrupts our conversation. "Dad, why do I always have to go to sleep while everyone is still in the living room?" she asks, looking at her father.

Ward chuckles, his demeanor much calmer now. "Because you're 13, sweetie," he replies, walking over to her.

As he leads the little girl back to her room, he gives me a small hint. "But you're right, maybe Aleena has to go to her room too."

I stand up from the couch and nod to Ward, acknowledging his presence before turning to Wheezie. "Yes, mister Cameron. Goodnight Mr. Cameron and... Wheezie is your name isn't it?"

She nods and turns around to go back into her room. I must admit I would like to have a little sister, or anyone to share my life with in Colorado. Someone like John B, for example. But I know it wouldn't be safe there.

With a heavy heart, I make my way upstairs and enter my big room. The familiar scent of home greets me, but it doesn't ease the tension in my body. I take off my jacket and throw it on the chair, along with the rest of the clothes there. However, the anger inside me is still simmering, and I throw the jacket so harshly that all the clothes tumble to the floor.