"Yara!" I shout, storming into the bathroom where steam swirls around the room. "What the hell is this?"
I brandish the phone, hands shaking with anger. Yara peeks her head around the shower curtain and pales as she sees the object in my hand.
"I can explain—"
"Explain? How could you do this?" My voice breaks.
Fear, disbelief and rage battle within me. I trusted her. We discussed never keeping secrets. And yet, here she is, risking everything by texting with this man we don't even know we can trust.
"I had to!" Yara yells, turning the shower off and grabbing the fluffy towel on the top of the shower casing to wrap around herself. "I won't let you let Gerald hurt us anymore!"
I reel like I've been slapped.LetGerald hurt us? Is that what Yara thinks? That I'm letting this happen?
"Yara, no, I would neve—" I reached for my daughter's hand.
Yara yanks it away. "Don't touch me! I don't know who you are anymore!"
The words pierce my heart. What have I become?
I sink to the couch, head in my hands.
Yara is right. I've failed my daughter. Again.
"I'm so sorry," I whisper. "You're right. I've made awful choices, especially when it comes to men. But no more."
I meet Yara's eyes, fierce determination in my gaze.
"I hear you. We'll let Morello help. No matter what it takes, I'll get us out of this."
Yara stares back, her eyes glistening. Then she rushes into my arms.
We hold each other tight, both trembling.
The road ahead is uncertain, but we'll walk it together. And we can deal with the blame and resentment later.
I stroke her hair, my heart breaking. How could I have let things get this bad? Yara is my whole world, yet I've exposed her to danger again and again.
No more. It ends now.
I cup Yara's face, wiping away her tears. "I promise you, I will fix this. Gerald will never lay a hand on you, and neither will Luchenko."
She searches my eyes, looking so young and vulnerable. "How can you stop him? He's too strong. Both of them are. And do you think that Morello is really strong enough to stop either one of them?"
Rage flares in me, white-hot. A twelve-year-old shouldn't have to worry about such things.
Nobody should.
I picture Gerald's smug face and want to smash it in. My hand twitches with the urge to slap, to punish...
No! I catch myself, horrified. What am I thinking?
I take a shaky breath. "Violence won't solve this. But we will find a way, together."
Yara nods, but I see the doubt in her eyes. I don't blame my daughter for losing faith. I've failed her too many times.
But not this time. I'll prove myself worthy of her trust.
Gently, I tilt her chin up. "I know I've made mistakes, my butterfly. All I can do is promise to protect you now. Can you believe in me one more time?"