63. After Nia

The sun was setting when Layla’s taxi stopped at the top of the road that led into her old neighbourhood. The storm clouds were completely black now, and she could smell the rain in the air. Finding someone willing to drive to that side of the tracks from Jackson’s hotel had taken a long time. That was as far as she allowed Jax to go. If he had come all the way to the trailer, she might not have had the strength to let him leave.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she paid the fare.

She’d only hastily packed a single bag. She slung that over her shoulder as she watched the taxi peel away. She didn’t blame him. There were many desperate people in her neighbourhood, and even though they didn’t steal from their own, taxis were fair game.

With a sigh, she started the walk home. The trailers looked more run-down in the two years she’d been away. Or maybe she’d just gotten used to living in luxury that she saw everything differently. The same tired people sat outside the trailers drinking a