"Surprised to see me, you little leech," the aged woman in front of me scoffs.
Words lodge in my throat. What is this woman doing here?
"Nothing to say. Didn't think so. Gary Lombardi doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut when he's trying to be smug about something. He thought I wouldn't get anything. But I know my brother wouldn't die without leaving me something."
"If you say so, lady," Estel says.
"Who are you?" She leers at Estel.
"This is my daughter of a sort. I didn't legally adopt her, but she's my daughter in every sense of the word."
"Why would you want to take care of this little leech?"
"You've missed out on a girl who is a beautiful soul and has a bright future."
"Is that so?" My aunt retorts.
"Yep, but you'll never find out."
"Hey, can I jump in here?" Comes from behind us, and I turn to see a man who looks vaguely familiar.
"You don't know who I am, short stuff?" he asks me.
"Uncle Gary?"
"In the flesh as they say."
"Where were you?" I scream.
"Mick." a hand lands on my arm.
Patting Estel's hand, I take a few deep, cleansing breaths. All the positives in my life come to mind. The energy within me settles, and I breathe in deeply before I open my eyes.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Gary. You couldn't have known, and if you had, I'm sure you would have been there. Things just weren't easy. But I shouldn't have lashed out at you."
"Is this the same spitfire I knew when she was a girl?" Uncle Gary laughs.
"I'm trying my best to pull in my anger until it's really needed."
A sound comes from behind us, and an unapologetic looking Aunt Angie stands there with a smirk on her face.
"She'll never be able to do that, Gary." Aunt Angie smirks.
"You're not lying on the floor, are you?" I reply
She jeers.
"I wouldn't test her, lady. She's the best in her taekwondo class and talented with a compound bow." Estel says.
"As if."
Whipping around, I have Angie backed against the wall. "Didn't Estel tell you not to test me? You're lucky, we're in a lawyer's office at the moment. Try this when we are outside and out of public sight and I kick your ass, you puta! Everything in my life fell apart when you threw me away."
"I didn't need some snot-nosed kid who wasn't blood relations, sucking me dry."
"And you don't have one. But you also now have not one or two new enemies but let's say ... how many would you say Estel."
"There's about twelve in our group, so ten more people." Estel responds.
"You now have twelve people that wouldn't think twice about leaving you in a gutter. They know what kind of life I had because of you. Don't mess with me."
Estel motions with her head. I step away from Angie and move to stand on the other side of Estel. An innocent smile is plastered on my face, when the lawyer's assistant looks in and beckons Uncle Gary, Estel and me through the doors, I wink at Angie.
"What about me?" Angie whines.
"I'm sorry ... you're who?" The assistant asks.
"Angela Price McDermott."
YOU ARE READING
The Protectors: New Generation Book 1
FantasyTallulah James wants to know where she belongs and what her life's purpose is. The only problem, she doesn't have all the facts. But who is keeping secrets from her? How does magic play into her life? Will she finally find what she's been longing...
