The Lost Sister

Prologue

Court

Standing near the back wall I see her walk in. While her schedule is always changing, her habits remain the same. She stops at Blissful Coffee before every shift at the hospital. She orders a large americano with oat milk creamer and either a breakfast sandwich on a croissant or a yogurt parfait.

Lately, she's been ordering the yogurt parfait and coffee without the creamer. I wonder if it's because of her upcoming wedding. Most brides always try to lose weight or maintain their weight before the big day. Although, I can't say I'm exactly thrilled about who she is marrying. The guy is a scumbag and I need her to realize it already.

I so badly want to interfere and tell her what her fiancé gets up to when he's at the hospital or when she's at the hospital and he's not at home. But I made a deal with Fitzroy. I could watch over Nicole from afar but I could never interfere with her life. Unless she was in danger, then I would intervene.

During my time in prison I often thought about Nicole and Matt. I wondered where they were, if they were safe, if they were together. I don't regret putting that bullet in our dad. Matt and I often took his beatings. I just had to tough it out until I turned 18 then I could take Matt and Nicole and get the hell away from that monster. I had saved all my money so I could afford a decent apartment for the three of us. Everything was set for us to escape. But that all came crumbling down the night I saw our dad raise his hand at Nicole.

It happened so suddenly. One minute she's playing with her doll that I got her for her birthday the next his hand comes down and slaps her across the face so hard she toppled over. Everything turned red as I saw him raise his foot next ready to kick her. In an instant I was tackling him to the ground and pounding my fists into his face. I could hear Nicole wailing, I could hear Matt screaming to stop. I could hear our dad manically laughing as I continued to hit him. But I never stopped.

It was Nicole placing her small hand on my shoulder and saying my name that caused me to stop. I looked over at her tear streaked face. Her cheek was a deep red that would no doubt turn into a nasty bruise later.

The memory of that night is still burned into my brain. Because that is the night I put a bullet in his head.

When I got out of prison I found out Nicole was adopted and Matt fell off the face of the earth. No trace of him anywhere. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into trying to find him but with keeping an eye on Nicole and doing stupid Sierra shit I hadn't had any luck yet.

Nicole's laughter brings me out from the fog of that night. She smiles at the barista and makes her way to a table near the window. Her table. I always make sure to sit at it before she gets there then when I see her walking closer, I vacate the spot. I wish I could talk to her. Just say hi or something. For so long I've worried about her and Matt. I hope wherever Matt is he's safe. I hope he's happy.

I stay there until the barista calls Nicole's name. Normally, I would just slip out the back door but not today. I discreetly make my way towards her and she accidentally bumps into me. I rest my hand on her arm for a second, basking in the familiar touch, we make eye contact after I mumble an apology. I'm almost rooted to my spot for a moment because when I look in her eyes all I see is our mom.

Nicole was only a toddler when our mom died. But I remember everything about mom. How she would sing to us. How she'd always make sure to give us a hug before we left for school. They way she protected us from our dad's beatings by taking them herself.

Shaking my head I hurry out of the coffee shop before she can even say anything.

The image of her face lingers as I make my way back to my place. A rundown house I bought to stay close to Nicole.

A text pulls me from my thoughts as I enter the house.

Bangkok. Tomorrow. High Rise Hotel. 11pm.

Cracking my neck I pull out my go-bag from the closet.

Time to get to work.