Craved (Book 2)

-17-

Update: 6/29/20

Chapter 17

Zamaria

Zamaria sat in her chair as she watched Greyson leave. She wanted to say more, do more, but she couldn't risk having him over much longer. Diggy was expecting her in an hour. She tried to tell Greyson what was going on but didn't want to risk losing him again.

She picked up her straightening iron and began to work on the other side of her head. Last night she was numb to it all. The abuse, the words, the touches, everything. She had felt a presence behind her ever since she walked through the doors. She had half a mind to hope it was someone coming to end her life. Then her mind went to a dark place. One she promised herself she'd stay far away from, but Diggy had pushed her there that night.

On instinct, she swung her fist behind her knocking down whoever was following her. She then dropped the shoes she had been carrying to jump down the few steps they went up. Rage filled her body as she began to attack with all her might. There wasn't anything to see, all she wanted to do was get rid of the pain, the hurt, humiliation, all of it.

Then a voice called out to her breaking through the hazy mid.

"ZaZa it's me!" Like a bucket of ice water dousing the flames, she stopped. All anger deflating from her body like a balloon. Greyson. She didn't know how to feel, should she be happy, sad, excited? It was too much at the moment. In the shower she just let her mind go and moved on autopilot.

It wasn't until she looked at herself in the mirror did the damn break. Bruises covered every inch of her torso, her eyes devoid of any emotion. She had even lost some weight in the two weeks she's been back by his side. This wasn't the way to live. Yet, it was her only way at the moment.

Zamaria finally got her hair fully straightened and walked to her closet to figure out what to wear for the day and what she was bringing to the club. Tonight would be her last night working until Diggy said otherwise. Tossing some clothes in her duffle bag, the familiar ringtone she assigned her sister blared through the quiet apartment.

Rushing to answer Zamaria's heart beat rapidly in her chest. "Jess, what's going on?" She asked immediately. Ever since she left her mother, she's been worried sick about her. The doctors gave her a month and that time was coming to an end. Seeing as how Jess rarely called her for anything, her mind went to that dreaded place.

She was greeted by the sound of soft cries and sniffling. "No." She whispered, praying with all hope it wasn't the call she dreaded.

"Mari." Jessica whispered brokenly.

"NO!" Zamaria screamed out feeling her world crashing. She didn't think she'd be able to take any more pain in her life. Things were happening way too fast for her to grasp right now.

"Mari?" Brody.

"B please don't say it." Zamaria pleaded into the phone as she curled onto the floor at the foot of her bed.

The heavy sigh he released and the sounds of her sister wailing in the background was all the confirmation she needed. Her mother took her final breath and she wasn't there to comfort her.

"Your father doesn't want to make any final decisions until you get back. I'm so sorry." He said softly in the end.

She wanted to believe the universe was giving her the finger right now. Taunting her disastrous life, willing her to play Russian Roulette once more. Will she come out on top or will this be her undoing? Her chest began to tighten and her vision blurred. Zamaria was unable to grasp onto reality and wanted it all to be a horrible dream. She wanted the last month to be the worst nightmare anyone could have.