Sane

chapter 14

Brookhaven, New York

Niya POV

The memory of him earlier today flashed in my mind—the way his eyes darted around after the deal was done, like he was expecting something—or someone—to show up at any moment. He looked calm on the surface, but I could tell there was something else going on underneath. Something bigger than just a simple drug deal.

I stubbed out my blunt and grabbed my phone off the table. I couldn't sit here stewing in my thoughts anymore—I needed answers. If he thought he could just drop all this on me without explaining himself, he had another thing coming.

The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Niya don't worry about meeting me I'm just going to tell you now ," his voice came through low and cautious.

"Yeah," I said flatly, not bothering with pleasantries. "We need to talk , and I don't want to meet in person anyways."

He sighed on the other end like he'd been expecting this call but still wasn't ready for it.

"I am sorry Niya , I really am for everything okay ?" he said.

"Nah," I snapped back, anger creeping into my voice. "You don't get to just show up after all these years, drag me into your shit, and then tell me not to ask questions."

There was silence on his end for a moment before he spoke again.

"I didn't have a choice," he said quietly.

"Didn't have a choice?" I repeated bitterly. "You had a choice when we were struggling after that bitch kicked us out and when my sister was fuckin dying B ! You had a choice then! So why now? Why after she's gone?"

His silence felt heavier this time, like he didn't know how to answer—or didn't want to.

"It's complicated," he finally said.

"Bullshit," I shot back. "You don't get to play mysterious now."

He let out another sigh, deeper this time. "Look... I know I wasn't there when you needed me before," he admitted quietly. "And I'll never be able to make up for that."

"Damn right you won't," I muttered under my breath.

"But things are different now," he continued, ignoring my comment. "There are... people watching me—watching us—and I needed someone I could trust."

"And you picked *me*?" I asked incredulously.

"You're family," he said simply.

Family? That word felt hollow coming from him after all these years.

"I'm trying to protect you," he added after a pause.

"Protect me from what?" I pressed.

He hesitated again before finally speaking: "From what's coming next."

That chill ran down my spine again as his words hung in the air between us.

"What's coming next?" I asked quietly.

But before he could answer, there was a loud noise on his end—a crash followed by muffled voices—and then the line went dead.

I stared at my phone in disbelief as dread settled deep in my chest. Whatever this was... it wasn't over yet.

And somehow, I knew it was only going to get worse from here.