SAPPHIRE (Book #1 Of Fire Series)

XXXV

A whole week of fighting and begging for Lethu to come back passes, with Piper simply saying "I've got it under control".

Still I've somehow found time to think about Jayden THE WHOLE TIME.

He doesn't even have a phone number that I'm allowed to have, Enzo says.

Then get a damn number that I can text you on van Tonder!

I have been speaking to him through Enzo for a while, but obviously Leigh wants time to speak with her man too.

It is only now that I realise just how attached I had gotten to Jayden, over the past few months.

I mean, it's easier to get a hold of Piper than it is to get a hold of Jayden van Tonder.

Maybe he just isn't that serious about me.

Okay it's only been a week, maybe I should give him some time.

A knock on the door draws me away from my pizza, that I've been eating an ungodly amount of lately.

My mother stands smiling in the doorway.

"Good news," I ask hopefully.

"Great news, my love. Powers is on his way here with Lethu," she beams.

"Oh my goodness! I'm glad she's safe now," I say.

"What's wrong, my love," my mother asks gently.

"How sure are we that she'll be completely safe here? I mean I'm pretty sure that David would want his biological daughter over me. Even though they wanted both of us," I sigh with frustration.

"I know. Uhm... I've decided it's best she went to live with your aunt and uncle in Botswana. Until we're sure she's completely in the clear," she sighs.

"Okay that's good. When does she leave," I ask with a smile.

"In an hour," she mutters guiltily.

"An hour? But she isn't even here yet," I ask bewildered.

"It's not such a great idea to have her in one place for too long. The quicker she gets out of here the better," she states frankly.

"But mom-"

"No buts, Nandipha. I have to make tough decisions and what I've decided is final," she says firmly.

"I won't be able to see her then," I state more than ask.

"No," she mutters guiltily.

With a defeated sigh and nod, I watch her leave to the elevator.

This floor only has about 6 apartments, and all of them are really spacious, so the walk to the lift is not the longest.

I close the door with a sigh and turn to see Leigh standing in the hallway looking at me.

"Hey. When did you get back from your appointment," I ask as I walk up to my pizza and she does the same.

"An hour ago. You were cooped up in your room and I didn't want to disturb. I just ended up taking a nap," she smiles as she grabs some pizza.

"Well, my father is going to be here any minute. He's getting released today and Piper is bringing him over," I smile.

"Oh that's great, Nandi! He owns this place right," she asks.

"Yea it's all his. He'll be living upstairs with mom," I sigh contentedly.

"Aww that's cute. Mom and dad reuniting and all," she smiles sadly.

"When are you and Enzo reuniting," I ask as I brush her hair out of her face.