Tainted Lie Bonus Epilogue

Lenny

“I’m not sure I’ll fit in here.”

I eyed the imposing castle-like building in front of me. Elegant gates surrounded the vast property, the lawn looking as fancy as the one at Yaya and Pappouli’s place.

Jude stepped up on my right side, messing up my hair. I slapped his hand away, smoothing down my strands again. I’d gotten a haircut yesterday when Ariel declared I couldn’t go without one any longer. At least my short hair was easy to smooth down again.

Jude had taken me to his barber with him, and it had been awesome. They even gave me food and whatever soft drink I wanted.

We’d moved back into the apartment two weeks ago, after Jude had renovated both our apartment and his, then tore down most of the wall in the middle, making it one big living space with four bedrooms.

I didn’t ask why we suddenly needed four bedrooms. Not after I’d found the positive pregnancy test Ariel had left on her bathroom counter. I’d gone in to get her hairdryer for Yaya because hers had refused to turn on when I saw the test.

Another presence, to my left this time, made me grin at Gabriel. He winked at me. “You’re an Olysses now. You’ll be like a God at this school. It’s a family legacy to go here. Nobody will give you any shit. And if they do, you tell me.”

He still scared me sometimes. But at the moment he was my favorite Olysses brother because he drove me to school in his Bugatti. And he’d even let me drive for a little bit down a quiet back road.

“You think Ariel is okay?” I couldn’t help but ask.

She’d cried when she’d said goodbye, holding me extra tight.

I loved my sister. She’d always been on my side, protected me. She thought I’d been too young to remember Mom, but there was no way I could forget the gnawing hunger in my stomach, or the terror I felt hiding in the closet. I didn’t want her to be sad. Not after she’d taken me away from there.

Jude nudged me. “She’ll be fine. You know how she is.”

She had been crying more than usual the last few weeks. But it was usually over stupid things. Like not being able to open a chocolate wrapper. Or wanting a milkshake. Girls are weird.

Gabriel clapped his hands. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

He led the way, walking us through the imposing gates. People stopped to stare. But for once I didn’t feel uncomfortable. Instead, I felt proud. Because I was with my family.