Chapter 8 – Family Shackles

• Terra
• By evening of the same day, we got news from the cops that Diego and Dylan had gone into hiding, while Demi Salvador was cleared of all suspicion. Not surprising though—given the influence of the Thompson family, she could get away scot-free.
• Meanwhile, I got the short end of the stick. With Diego on the run and Demi roaming free, my father and brothers tightened security around me and the kids.
• I’m not allowed to leave the house without one of them accompanying me, and my phone has to stay on and traceable at all times. I’m not technically under house arrest, but I’m being watched 24/7.
• I can move freely, but every single step I take is being watched. Every mistake you make adds another layer of security to the already fortified walls around you. It’s enough to drive anyone insane.
• I tried to argue, hoping my mother would back me up—but after what happened, even she sided with my father. Their concern is warranted, but it’s suffocating me.
• “Dad, you guys can’t do this to me,” I said, frustrated.
• The four men were nonchalantly playing a card game in the living room. While this was an odd sight, it was doing absolutely nothing for my case.
• “I’m your dad. I’ll do anything to keep you safe,” he said without even glancing up.
• He was blocking me out—avoiding eye contact, dodging the power of my puppy eyes.
• “Ty? Zee? Max? Anyone?” I pleaded, scanning their faces.
• Not one of them looked up.
• “Fine,” I muttered, storming into the kitchen where the women were gathered.
• “Mom, your husband is bullying me,” I pouted.
• “I’m not, honey! It’s for her own good,” Dad shouted from the living room.
• “He’s right, Terra. It is for your own good,” my mother echoed calmly.
• “But Mom, don’t you think they’re overreacting?” Celine chimed in, and both Ella and Anna nodded in agreement.
• “Maybe,” my mom conceded, “but until we confirm that Diego has left the country, I want you to stay home. I just can’t rest easy otherwise.”
• “Sorry, Terra. We tried,” the three sisters-in-law said, looking at me with empathy.
• Frustrated, I caved and ran upstairs to be with the kids. On my way up, my phone rang, and Clorinde’s face flashed on the screen. Worried, I answered on the first ring.
• “Hello? What happened to you last night? Where did you go?”
• “You left me! What happened to you?” she shot back.
• “Answer me first. Are you safe?”
• “I’m fine. But where are you?”
• “At home…”
• “I’m coming over right now,” she said and ended the call.
• Fifteen minutes later, there was an uproar in the living room, and I smiled. Finally, someone who isn’t as boring as the rest of these people.
• I rushed downstairs—and instantly regretted ever thinking she’d be on my side. Clorinde stood there between Max and Zee, smiling like she’d just won the million-dollar Powerball.
• The women in the kitchen must’ve heard the commotion too, because they came to check it out. I expected Ella and Anna to be mad, but nope. They just smiled and waved to greet her like she was royalty.
• I was annoyed before, but now I was angry. Without a word, I grabbed her by the arm and yanked her away from her heaven of beautiful men—dragging her into my bedroom.
• Furious, I shoved her onto the bed and slammed the door, locking it with the same rage burning in my chest.
• “You have to help me! Because of last night, my father grounded me,” I snapped, yanking at the blanket in frustration.
• She burst out laughing. “Grounded? What are you, five? Why are you even grounded?”
• I realized she hadn’t heard the full story yet, so I told her everything—every ugly, disturbing detail.
• Her reaction was something I didn’t expect.
• “What!?” She froze, eyes wide, mouth hanging open in shock.
• It took her a moment to collect herself before she finally said, “Okay, you know what? Your father is right. You should stay home until Diego’s caught. But damn… I didn’t think he’d go that far. I mean, I knew he liked you, but drugging you? That’s next-level psycho. Just goes to show—you really can’t judge a book by its cover.”
• “You knew he liked me?” I asked, stuck somewhere between shock and confusion.
• “Yeah, it was all over his face. Why do you think I was trying so hard to win him over?”
• “And you’re not mad at me?”
• “Why should I be?” she said, giving me a look like isn’t it obvious?
• “Okay, fine. I might be a bitch, a bit crazy…”
• “A lot crazy.”
• “Okay, a lot crazy and overly expressive—but I’m not going to choose some random guy over my lifelong friend. I’m not dumb, you know.”
• “And that’s why I love you.” I squished her cheeks between my thumb and index finger.
• We laughed, letting it take my mind off everything for just a second. And then, reality cut in like a hot dagger. I sighed, flopping back onto the bed.
• “What should I do?” I groaned.
• “You should do what your dad asked—for now. It’s for your safety.”
• I frowned. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
• “Nah-ah, I’m already guilty of taking you to that party. What do you expect me to do to convince them?” she said, and I sighed in defeat.
• It seemed there wasn’t much we could do for now. But that didn’t mean I was just going to sit here and wait for the cops.
• “Clorinde, hire a private investigator and find Diego.”
• “Huh? Aren’t the cops already on the case?”
• “Yeah, but the cops are too slow. I’m not going to sit around in lockdown while Diego roams free.”
• “I’m on it,” she replied proudly.
• “You haven’t told me what happened to you last night,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
• “Nothing happened. I got drunk, caused a scene, and took a cab home,” she replied, avoiding eye contact.
• “Are you hiding something from me?” I asked, suspicious.
• “No, not at all.”
• “You’re being way too avoidant. You won’t even look me in the eye.”
• She sighed. “Fine. I just felt bad for making you go to that stupid meet-up.”
• “It’s okay. No one expected Diego to turn out like this. Don’t blame yourself. After all, I was the one who introduced you two. I should be the one to blame,” I said, pointing the finger at myself.
• That didn’t alleviate her guilt, though.
• “You said you didn’t want to go, but I forced it on you. It’s partially my fault. To make up for it, I promise I’ll find Diego and bring him to justice,” she said with determination.
• “It’s for everyone’s benefit.”
• Clorinde agreed, and the conversation ended there. Once the guilt faded, her usual cheer returned. She immediately insisted that I invite her to stay for dinner—because, in her words, she still wanted to bask in the heaven of beautiful men. I groaned but didn’t have the heart to turn my friend away, so she got to stay.
• Days turned into weeks, and there was no news of Diego or Dylan. The longer time passed, the slimmer our chances of finding them felt. At this rate, I figured I’d be grounded until I was forty.
• Another week went by—nothing.
• One more week, still nothing.
• Then finally, in the fourth week, we got a break. Someone tipped off the investigators that Diego and Dylan were spotted at the airport, trying to flee the country. They were quickly apprehended and brought back to the city to stand trial.
• With them finally in custody, I was at last free from the suffocating shackles of family protection.