Saving Reli Read online

  Saving Reli

  Brooke Summers

  Contents

  Warning

  Blurb

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  1. Reli

  2. John

  3. Reli

  4. John

  5. Reli

  6. John

  7. Reli

  8. John

  9. Reli

  10. John

  11. Reli

  12. John

  13. Reli

  14. John

  15. Reli

  16. John

  17. Reli

  18. Reli

  19. John

  20. Reli

  21. Reli

  22. John

  Epilogue

  What’s coming next?

  Other books by Brooke Summers:

  All the ways you can follow Brooke:

  Acknowledgments

  First Edition published in 2020

  Text Copyright © Brooke Summers

  All rights reserved. The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  Cover Design by Design Bunnies.

  Formatter by Formatting Bunnies.

  Editing by Magnolia Author Services.

  Proofread by Author Bunnies.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior written permission of the author. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Warning

  This story is NOT for everyone. Proceed with caution.

  Blurb

  Reli

  My life isn’t a fairytale. It’s raw, painful, and battered.

  Losing my father was the start of my downfall.

  The nightmare I lived for two years shaped me.

  The scars I have run deep.

  I was broken.

  Until him.

  John

  The moment I saw her, I knew she was mine.

  I was thirty-one and she was fifteen.

  I bided my time, waiting.

  Then I saw her and there was no way I was staying away.

  She was a shell of the girl I remember.

  She says she’s broken.

  I’m going to show her that she’s a diamond in the rough.

  She’s mine and I’m not letting her go.

  One way or another, I’m saving Reli.

  Acknowledgements

  Christine

  You’re an amazing lady and this book wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for you.

  Prologue

  Reli

  The rain pours down just as my tears do. My breath is caught in my lungs as I try and wrap my head around this day. A wail shrills through the air and I turn just in time to find Talia, my step-mother, collapsing to the floor. Everyone rushes around her, making sure she’s okay. I can’t move; I’m rooted to the spot.

  Three days ago, I lost the only person who loved me. I lost my only parent. My dad had a heart attack. He was only fifty-four. He was healthy and active, he watched what he ate and yet, here we are, attending his funeral. I’m surrounded by people I don’t know, all of them worrying about Talia and her daughters, yet no one has even glanced at me. I’m mad but, at the same time, I’m grateful. I couldn’t bear all the pitying looks that they’ve been throwing Talia and the girls. I’m fifteen, and I’ve lost both parents. I have no family left.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” a deep, husky voice calls out. I turn to see a man standing against the wall smoking a cigarette. “Your dad was a good man; one of the best, in fact.”

  I stand up, my legs wobbly beneath me, but I manage to take a step toward the man. “You know my dad?” I shake my head, “You knew him?” The correction has my voice coming out soft and uneven but full of hope. Hope of having a little bit more of my dad in my life.

  He nods. “Yes, I’ve known your father since I was a little boy.” His voice sends shivers throughout my body. “I knew your mom too.” Something about this man is familiar but yet I can’t put my finger on where I know this man from.

  “You did?” That’s a surprise; other than my father and his business partner, I haven’t met anyone else that knew my mom. She died when I was five; she was in a car accident and was killed on impact.

  His lips tilt slightly as he pulls in a drag of his cigarette. “Yes, I knew your mom. You don’t know who I am, do you?” he questions, his eyes alight with humor.

  I frown. I can’t place him. My brain is fuzzy as I try and recall a memory but it’s no use. “No, I’m sorry. Should I?”

  He shakes his head. “I suppose not. It’s been years since I last saw you; saw your father. I’m John.” His eyes glance over my body. “You’ve grown a lot.”

  I feel vulnerable. I know that look, the darkening of his eyes and the way he keeps staring at me. I shake it off. “Yeah, I have,” I respond, unsure of what to say.

  “There you are.” Another voice calls out and I look past John to see Markus Princeton, my father’s business partner. “Yoreli, I’ve been looking for you all day,” he says, pulling me into his arms. He’s the first person to do that to me. He’s the first person to hold me since my father died. “How are you holding up?” he asks me. I swallow, not wanting to answer because if I do I know that I’m going to lose it. “You’re going to be okay,” he says softly, tightening his arms around me.

  “Thank you,” I say as I take a step backward, his arms loosening around me.

  “You ever need anything, Yoreli, please don’t hesitate to call me.”

  I nod, knowing that I’ll never make that phone call.

  “Ready?” he asks John and I’m wondering how they know each other.

  “Yeah, Dad.”

  It finally clicks; he’s Markus’ son. I haven’t seen him in years. He’s changed a lot since the last time I saw him. I feel awful that I didn’t recognize him. Our families have been intertwined for years. Our fathers were best friends, had been since they were in college.

  Markus reaches out his hand and gently touches my face. “Fifteen and so strong already,” he says before letting go and walking away.

  “Fifteen?” John repeats once his father is out of earshot. “You’re fifteen?”

  I square my shoulders and raise an eyebrow. “Yes, is that a problem?”

  His jaw tightens. “It’s a fucking huge problem.”

  “What?” I gasp; what the hell is wrong with him?

  “Reli, I’m thirty-one,” he grounds out. He shakes his head and I watch as he turns and walks away.

  For some reason, having him turn his back on me hurts.

  I slowly sit back down on the step and wait for when everyone else is gone. I want to go upstairs, crawl into bed, and stay there for an eternity.

  One

  Reli

  Birds chirping rouses me from my sleep. My throat feels as though I've swallowed a dozen nails and they've cut it open as they've moved down my esophagus. Opening my eyes, I'm relieved to be able to see; the blindfold is gone as are the bindings. The devil always looks after me when she's finished; she cleans me and pulls the covers over me. Doing that confuses me. She’s a bitch to me during the day, a devil during the night, and then takes care of me while I’m passed out.

  My life has changed drastically in the two years since my father died. Everyone I knew and loved vanished from my life and I
was left to the mercy of my step-mother and her evil daughters. Most of the time I’m invisible. I’m not allowed out of the house unless Talia allows it and I’m grateful; most days I look like I’ve gone ten rounds with a heavy-weight boxer.

  Gingerly getting out of bed, I walk to the mirror wanting to see the damage she inflicted on me last night. To my absolute horror, I have bright red finger marks on my neck. Glancing down at my wrists, they're marred with blackish-purple colored bruises. I finger my bracelet; it’s silver with a tiny heart. I adore this bracelet; it’s the only thing I have in this world that I truly value. My dad gave it to me; it belonged to my mom. He bought it for her when they were dating and she wore it every day until she died. Dad had given it to me for my thirteenth birthday. I cherish it. It’s my reminder of my parents.

  My father always told me that looking at me was like looking at my mother. He loved her with everything he had, and I know how heartbroken he was to live without her. He would always tell me stories about their life together. He loved her blonde hair and bright brown eyes; he told me that she was his silk to his rough. She was carefree and loving. She was his soulmate.

  Looking at my ankles, I see they too are the same as my wrists. What stuns me the most is the burn that is on my stomach; it was left by the wax she poured over me last night.

  I jump in the shower, needing to scrub the remnants of last night off of me. It doesn't matter because it won't work. I'll still be dirty. I'll still be afraid because no matter what happens, the devil will be in my bed again tonight. Once I'm out, I hear a bell ringing. Great, it's time to serve the house. I quickly dry myself before throwing on my clothes. I rush downstairs and get breakfast ready. I need coffee; it's the only thing that can get me through the day. It's the first thing I do, put the coffee pot on.

  "Yoreli!" Zella shouts and I fight the urge to ignore it. It will only lead to more pain tonight.

  "Yoreli?" Anna cries; no doubt she's unable to dress herself this morning.

  "Coming," I call out so that they'll shut the hell up. I've ignored them before and they've gotten louder and louder. Which annoyed their mother, Talia. The woman who, at night, is my monster.

  "Bring me a cup of coffee; I'm parched," Zella demands and I sigh; just when I think I have their morning routine figured out, they change it up. They do it so that I'll always be at their beck and call, that they'll be able to berate me for not having their breakfast ready for them in a timely manner.

  "Bring me a ham and cheese omelette," Anna yells and I instantly begin making it. Today has started off crappy; it's one of the worst mornings I've had in awhile. The girls are in rare form today. It must be the day to run Yoreli into the ground.

  Ten minutes later I'm walking upstairs with a tray of food in my hands, my side hurting as my clothes cling to the burn. "Took you long enough," Zella growls, grabbing a cup of coffee from the tray. Her brown eyes are glaring at me; she’s already dressed this morning in a tight dress that shows off her curves. Her blonde hair is tied up into a high ponytail. She takes a sip of coffee, stares at me in silence before nodding her head and walking away.

  I place the tray down on the dresser and take the plate to Anna, who's still lying in bed. Her thick, black, curly hair is messy and splayed on the pillow, her pale skin is a vast contrast to her sister’s, who has sun-kissed skin. "I could have starved to death."

  I bite back the retort of I wish and pick up the girl's dirty clothes, needing to have them washed today; otherwise they'll pitch a fit.

  "Yoreli, I'd like a cup of coffee too,” Anna calls out as I'm about to leave their room.

  Placing their clothes on the floor by the door, I turn around with a smile plastered to my face and pick up the coffee I had made just in case she needed one. Anna is a feeble girl; she can't think for herself, she follows whatever Zella or their mom does.

  "Yoreli, I need my dress ready for this evening. I have a date,” Zella informs me. A part of me twinges with jealousy whereas the bigger part of me is happy that she won't be around to inflict her bitchiness on me.

  "Yes, Zella."

  Her nose scrunches up in disgust as she glances at me. "When he arrives to pick me up, you are not to be in attendance. You are not part of this family."

  I nod my head and walk backward. "Of course, tonight is your night. I'll have your dress ready for you." Quickly picking up the dirty clothes, I rush back downstairs, knowing that I have very little time before they call me once again. I put the clothes into the wash, knowing I need to get them done so I can have Zella's dress dried before tonight.

  "Yoreli!" My body shudders at Talia's voice. "Coffee. Now."

  “Coming," I yell back as I fill her coffee cup, grateful that I've managed to put the wash on before I was summoned.

  I place her coffee cup down on her desk; she's dressed in her normal corporate attire, a pencil skirt with a fancy blouse. "Yoreli, Friday, the girls and I are going on vacation. You are not to go anywhere while we are gone. Do you understand?" She flicks her blonde hair behind her shoulders. Zella is just like her mom; everything about them is the same, including their deep brown eyes.

  I nod. "Yes, ma'am." I had forgotten they were taking a vacation. I’ll have a week without them. I honestly don’t know what I’ll do while they’re gone. I’d love to go out of the house and get some fresh air where I won’t be worrying about them being home, but Talia has the house monitored; she knows when I leave and how long I’ll be gone for. Even when she’s away, she keeps constant tabs on me. I can’t breathe without her knowing.

  She walks over to me, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. Her finger caresses the bruise on my neck, she tuts, "Someone's been a naughty girl."

  I stand still as I await my next instruction.

  "Dinner is to be served at five-thirty sharp. Once it is served, you are to go to bed. I don't want to see you for the rest of the evening." She turns and walks back to her desk; we're finished and I can return to the safety of downstairs.

  "Yes, ma'am," I reply instantly. They won't be home until five, meaning I'll only have to suffer for thirty minutes. Maybe this day isn't as bad as I first thought. The girls have cheerleading practice and Talia always arrives home at just after five.

  “Oh, and don't think you're getting away with it that easily. I want this entire house cleaned. I want it sparkling." She raises her brow at me. "That is all; you have work to do, so do it."

  I race up the stairs; I don't have very long to have this house cleaned. The girls’ bedroom only gets cleaned once a week; it's the only time I'm allowed to. It's utterly disgusting and takes me at least two hours to clean. Talia is somewhat cleaner, her office is the easiest to clean as is the kitchen because nobody besides me ventures inside. The sitting room is another story altogether. I'm never allowed in there unless it's to clean and just like the girl's bedroom, that happens once a week. I'm always surprised by how dirty the girls are. I find food on the floor and dirty clothes. Talia very rarely spends time in there so she doesn't see how bad it gets. When she does though, that’s when I’m ordered to clean it immediately.

  Midway through cleaning the sitting room, I hear the front door slam shut and I breathe a sigh of relief; they're gone out now. This room is filthier than I had envisioned, but I manage to get it cleaned before nine am. Next, I tackle the girl's bedroom, knowing that it's going to be the hardest room and will take the longest.

  By the time I'm finished cleaning upstairs, it's after lunch time. I've managed to get the clothes washed and they're currently drying. My entire body is sore. I'm tired and hungry. I've not eaten today; that's nothing new. Usually the only time I eat is lunch, and if I'm lucky, it’s leftovers from the previous night’s dinner. Although Zella and Anna have realized that and tend to eat everything in sight.

  Sitting down at the kitchen table, I have a cup of coffee along with a ham and cheese omelette. Making one for Anna this morning made me want to have one.

  Talia never said what she wanted for di
nner; neither did the girls. Usually they'd let me know, I hate being the one to make the decision. If they don't like it, Talia will punish me and the girls will be even more bitchy than normal; criticizing the whole meal. I'm grateful that they've not been violent. They've pushed me and tripped me, but they haven't gone any further than that.

  Four thirty and the entire house is cleaned, all laundry has been washed, dried, folded, and put away. Dinner is on and will be ready for when they arrive home. I'm hoping that I'll be able to go to sleep once I've served them dinner. It all depends on what Talia wants me to do when she gets home—she’s known to change her mind. I set the dining room table; it's something Talia always insists on, that she and the girls will have one meal together every day, and that meal will be eaten at the dining room table. It's usually dinner as mornings are hectic here and they're rarely here for lunch.

  The front door opens and I brace myself, not knowing who it is or what's going to be said.

  "Yoreli!" It's Zella, but where Zella is, Anna is always close by. "I'm going to shower, you'll do my hair and makeup once I'm finished,” she tells me and I sigh. "Mom will be home in fifteen minutes."

  I close my eyes, that doesn't give me much time to finish the dinner and get Zella ready for her date. "Okay, Zella,” I shout back. "Does Anna need anything?"