Thorn Between Brothers

Be Careful

The next day,

Trevor was right.

Tristan woke up better than yesterday, although the lingering image of the server was still in his mind, he was so preoccupied with so much work that he almost forgot.

He found himself buried under a pile of documents and meetings as the day went by. He barely had time to grab lunch, let alone think about the server but he still called his security detail to get information on every person who waitressed and served or worked at the night of the event.

Parties were always the Zachary Twins thing and they're non negotiable especially when you are named the eligible billionaire bachelors in the city. It made all the women fall at their feet, well probably their knees. It was seven in the evening ang Tristan and Trevor prepared to attend another high-profile event - a charity gala at a luxurious mansion on the outskirts of the city.

Arriving the mansion, they were greeted by the host and Trevor find his way to the ladies. Tristan on the other hand, a bit colder than Trevor scanned the crowd, taking in the familiar faces of the city's elite. And then, he saw her – the server from the other night, and she was doing the same job – picking up empty plates and cups from the ground.

Tristan's heart skipped a beat as he watched her work for a moment. “Why this job though? She is more than this,”he thought as he carefully removed his gaze but finding it back ok her two minutes later. Trevor, who had somehow left the fleet of giggling girls, followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like we've found our girl again," Trevor whispered, a sly grin spreading across his face.

Tristan frowned and remained silent. Trevor shrugged. “I get why you were thinking of her. I’m game.”

“No.” Tristan tensed at the idea of Trevor getting her to agree to their terms.

Trevor laughed. “Not the answer I was looking for. You said No the last time, and went completely off during our fun time. I’ll go work my charm.”

“Do not approach her, Trevor,” Tristan growled.

But Trevor had already sauntered away in the direction of the kitchen, leaving Tristan standing there, fingers in tight fists at his sides.

How the f**k was he supposed to explain to his best friend, a brother he regularly shared women with, that he didn’t want Tristan within a mile of this one?

——

Estella Reys rubbed her palms on her favorite second handed worn out jean trousers as she briefly closed her eyes. It had holes but due to the latest trend looked like a bought down style, swaying as she stood in front of the basin containing all the empty plates and cups she’d collected from the huge event room. She was tired. Tired was an understatement but it was the only word that she could think of. And hungry.

The best part of this other job—besides the fact it was cash paying—was the food. She was allowed to take leftovers, and judging by the amount of food bustling in and out of this place, there was going to be plenty. Rich people always did things in excess. There was no way the number of people invited to this party justified the amount of food and booze being fronted.

She mentally shrugged. At least she’d get a decent meal, even if the stuff was too expensive for her tongue.There’d be enough for Rebecca too. A wave of sadness engulfed her and just as quickly, guilt. She had no business feeling this way because Rebecca had come back around.

She did that. Disappeared for days on the account of work and then reappeared, usually when she needed a place to crash. Food. Money… Especially money. Her chest squeezed because she knew what she did with the money she asked for even as she hated to do so.

She never looked her in the eye. Instead she drops her gaze and speak softly, “Esthy… there’s this thing. I need…” And that is all it took. She gave her money because she couldn’t do anything else. But she hated the way she said “Esthy.” Hated that nickname when it had once been one she adored because it had been given to her by someone who cared for her.

Rebecca.

The only person in the entire world who had ever tried to shield her from the monsters in this world. The only person who had ever given a damn about her. The only person who had ever cared about her.

Not even her own parents – not like she knew them anyway.

Her sister.

Not by blood but in every way else it counted.

They were birds of the same feather. They were bound for life. She was hers just like Bonnie was to Clyde except they were not in a romantic relationship. Now that would be weird.

How was she supposed to ever turn her back on her?

She couldn’t fathom the thought of it.

She wouldn’t.

Suddenly, there was a sound at the side door, the one that opened to the road where the trash was taken out. It brought her out of her thoughts as she glanced up to see the same person who was on her mind – Rebecca, leaning against the frame, her once luscious long brown hair now short tied up in a ponytail, head tilted back so she could glance down the alleyway.

That was Rebecca. The one and only one she knew.

Always have one eye on the lookout. She never went into any situation unwary and without her escape route planned.

“Esthy,” she said in a quiet voice. Quiet but still recognizable.

Estella flinched, knowing why she had come. She didn’t say anything. She didn't need to. She reached into her pocket of the only jean trousers she had on for the little extra money she had kept there.

It was five grand. She has received the first half up front. She’ll receive the second half when she finishes up after the duty for the night. Rebecca would get this half. While the other half would have to feed her until she found another job, and by the look of things, she didn’t know when that would be.

Rushing to where Rebecca stood, she handed over the cash into her hand and watched uncomfortably as her eyes moved sideways, in an attempt not to make eye contact with her as she collected the money and put it into the ripped, torn jeans. The same jeans that have been keeping her from loosing her dignity and showing the world the remaining side.

From the way Rebecca stood, she could tell she wasn’t okay. Her stance was uncomfortable. She limped to walk and she knew she had gotten into another trouble. She knew she hated this. She hated it too. But it was the only way she could keep them from begging on the streets.

“Thank you,” Rebecca whispered, still not making eye contact.

“Are you okay? Do you have somewhere to sleep tonight?” Estella asked even though she knew the answer as it’s the same every single night.

“Yeah, you don’t have to worry about me” Rebecca answered as she had somehow mingled and gotten involved with a lot of bad gangs, the ones who the police can’t have much of a say in what they do. “You?”

Estella didn’t, but she wasn’t going to tell her that. She wanted to beg Rebecca to leave the business she was associated with so that they would be able to save up more money. The first one she joined, she followed through thinking it was a clean job but she ended up escaping a disturbing encounter, and although the memory still haunted her, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Rebecca the main reason for leaving Sweet Sensation Club as Rebecca needed the money to pay off the gang she got in business with. So she lied instead.

“Yeah,” She said, forcing a casual tone.

Rebecca's expeession relaxed slightly, as her forehead showed it and she nodded. "Good. I'm working on getting us out of here, Esthy. I'll find a place for both of us soon. Real soon.”

Estella’s gaze dropped as she shook her head in denial, knowing it was what she had. She had heard those promises before, and also knew it wasn’t going to happen at least not soon. Rebecca leaned forward and her lips brushes against her forehead as she lay a gentle kiss. “I’ll take care of us, Esthy. I just need more time, I promise.”

For a long moment, Estella closed her eyes and imagined life to be different, but she knew wishing for it to be different was like cursing in the wind.

“I’ll be checking on you,” Rebecca said. She nodded. And then, as she started to melt back into the shadows of the road, Estella looked up and whispered, “Be careful, Rebecca. Please?”

Rebecca smiled, her once beautiful smile had been replaced with one just as shadowy as the night. “Always, babe.”

She watched her go and it felt like she swallowed a whole corn as her throat felt bigger. She wanted to break, her eyes already pooling with tears but she quickly held them in. She had to be strong. She couldn't let her emotions get the better of her.

Rage built but she knew it was also a useless emotion. Her fingers curled and uncurled at her sides and the itch invaded. The need, the craving. She fought it, but it was a hard battle. A victory that wasn’t completely solidified. She hadn’t thought about the pills in a long while, but tonight the need was there, ensconced in hunger and emotional pain.

The need for oblivion. Just that short window of time when everything felt better and more manageable. When things looked up, even if for a few short hours.She couldn’t go back to that. She’d fought too hard to make it out and she’d lost everything in the process. Some might say that would be even more reason to allow herself that slow slide back into the inky past. But she had to be strong. She wasn’t that person any longer.