“I gave it to an old lady that lived next door to us,” she answers.

I clear my throat, and they drink in the sight of us. Ma’s posture straightens as her eyes ping-pong between Rylee, Cora, and me like she’s trying to piece the puzzle together.

“Who are these people?” Alana asks, peering down at Cora. “Is this a daughter we know nothing about?” she asks with sarcasm.

Gia stares at me with curiosity in her eyes, and I shake my head. “She’s our sister. Our dad is her father.”

Alana balls her fists and digs her nails into her skin, and Ma stares at her like I just announced that she’s from Mars.

“Your dad always had a thing for blonde-haired women,” Ma says, eyeing Rylee from head to toe.

“You must be Ava. Ellis mentioned you,” Rylee says, and I don’t miss my ma’s cringe after hearing my dad’s name.

Cora rushes up to Alana and wraps her tiny arms around her waist. Alana pats her head awkwardly.

“I’ve been waiting a whole year to meet you. Tuxedo Mask says you like anime so I bought you a gift.” Cora pulls away from her, unzips her suitcase, grabs a manga, and hands it to Alana. “I don’t know if you like Black Cover, but I got you volume thirteen.”

“Thanks. I watch the show, but I haven’t read the latest issue.”

“Cora, go to the movie theater. I have to talk to Gunner about something serious,” Rylee says, and Cora grabs her stuff to walk upstairs. Then Rylee’s eyes glue to mine.

“I’m leaving Cora with you,” she says. “I can’t take care of her.”

“What the fuck do you mean?” I say, and Alana crosses her arms. Ma digs in her pocket and grabs her phone, starting to play on it.

“I can’t be reminded of him by that child up there. The truth is, I never wanted her. The only reason why I kept her was because of Ellis. He wanted her because he felt bad for how he walked out on you and your mom for another woman. I saved up the child support and three million from her trust fund; I’m leaving tonight.” Her voice is monotone.

Fuck, I shouldn’t have set up the trust fund with Rylee as administrator. I trusted her to always be looking out for Cora’s best interest.

I want to punch the fucking wall. Instead I grind my molars hard enough my jaw hurts.

“You can’t leave your child, it’s against the law!” Alana yells.

“I can and will.”

“I’m about to slap this bitch!” Alana says, and they have a screaming match. Alana points at Rylee calling her every name in the book and Rylee’s yelling to get out of her face. This is a fucking circus.