The smell coming off of him was too familiar.

I blinked and still couldn’t believe my eyes.

I scrunched my nose, trying to place the smell.

What was that smell? Where had I smelled it before?

“Hi, Kendra.”

Kelly closed his fingers around my elbow and lowered his head next to my ear. “That’s him?” He pointed. “That’s your uncle?”

I wanted to cry. I felt my body threaten to shake. Instead, I was frozen with the inability to think. Standing breathless, Kelly pulled on my arm harder.

“I am.” He approached, lowering his camera to the side. “Marvin.”

Kelly dropped my arm and charged my uncle. Slamming his hands into Marvin’s chest, he stole his camera out of his hands. Marvin lunged after his property but Kelly barked for him to stay away.

It all happened so fast I didn’t have time to react. Still so shocked by everything that happened, I wondered how my day had deteriorated so quickly.

“That’s expensive!” Marvin pointed at Kelly.

Working his thumbs over the buttons, Kelly erased the images filling the memory card.

I felt my eyes glaze over when my uncle took one step closer to me. A heavy feeling weighed down my stomach and my dry lips parted as I tried to place that scent on him. “Were you with Sylvia?”

Marvin gave me a knowing look and changed the subject. “Now I understand what your mother was talking about.”

Kelly’s head snapped up. His nostrils flared as he made a fist with his free hand. I knew he knew what my uncle was referring to. We both did. The only difference between us was Kelly taking action while I remained numb, unresponsive. I was used to my uncle calling me a whore.

“Take your camera.” Kelly shoved the piece of equipment hard into Marvin’s chest. “And get the fuck out of here. She’s not interested in talking to you, and neither am I.”

Marvin’s fingers clutched his camera as he stared into Kelly’s eyes, both men sizing the other up. Then he rolled his eyes over to me with a knowing smirk. “I had to see it for myself.”

Hating that Mom was spreading rumors about me, I asked in a shaky voice, “Is that why you’re here? Because Mom told you to—” I glanced to the camera and couldn’t find the words to continue.

“Your mom needs your help and you’re out here,” he looked around, disgusted, “shopping.”

My cheeks burned as tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. I didn’t know why, but I felt ashamed for having money in my pocket, living a healthy carefree life while Mom was at home struggling to take care of Dad. And I hated that I felt this way. It wasn’t fair of them to pass their own guilt to their daughter.

Kelly must have seen that I was about to cry because he closed the gap between us, draped his arm around my trembling body, and said to my uncle, “You need to leave now.”

Marvin nodded. “I’m here to warn you, Kendra.”

My eyes flickered up to his.

“I wouldn’t spend any more of that money that isn’t yours to begin with.”

“What are you talking about?” Inside, I was already screaming.

“The inheritance money.” Marvin huffed. “But don’t ask me, ask your mother. She’s the one hiring a lawyer.”

My eyes shot wide open as my throat constricted.

Marvin glanced at Kelly one more time before turning around and walking away.

I stepped forward, needing to know more. But before I could chase after him, Kelly stopped me and my cell started ringing.

Kelly’s head tipped back as he watched me dig out my phone.

“It’s Madam,” I said after glancing at the display.

Kelly shook his head like he didn’t want me to answer. But I had no choice.

I cleared my throat. “Now’s not a good time.”

“Maybe for you.” Madam’s voice was stern through the line. “But I’m afraid what I have to ask can’t wait.”

My heart skipped a beat as I quickly forgot ever having run into my uncle at all.

“It has come to my attention that you’re still holding onto your last delivery.”

Confusion lined my brow. “I don’t know what you’ve been told, but the eagle is in the nest.”

“Don’t get cute with me,” Madam barked. “Where are you, dear?”

Pinching my bottom lip between my fingers, I didn’t have any desire to tell her where I was. “Why?”

“Don’t forget, sweetheart. The man standing next to you is a gift from me.”

I turned and looked at Kelly. He was watching me with perked ears.

“I’ve allowed you two to be together, and all I asked for in return was for you to run a couple errands for me.”

“And I’ve done just that,” I pleaded.

“This is a partnership; don’t you forget that.”

“I haven’t.”

“Now, tell me where you are before you make Madam angrier than she already is.”

Turning my back to Kelly, I covered my mouth with my hand and whispered my location. Then I hung up, hoping I hadn’t just made a big mistake in telling her where I was.

Hanging my head, I fought back the tears that threatened to spill.

Kelly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, drawing me into his chest.

I flinched, but soon melted into his shell, battling the sudden urge to hide. “Madam never received the package.” Kelly’s arms squeezed tighter. “Now she’s coming for me.”

“I’m here by your side. Don’t you forget that.”

I tipped my head back and looked into his compassionate eyes. “Kelly, you don’t understand. She’s threatening to take you away from me.”

He tipped my head back and stared into my eyes. “You know I’ll never let that happen.”