Betrayed Read Online Free Page B

Asia had driven into, but from the little Afrika could see, she could tell that it was upscale with manicured lawns. Asia drove up into a long, circular driveway that ran parallel to the wrap-around porch with Boston ferns still hanging from their baskets, although it was mid-September. Light from the interior lit the house from the inside and motion sensor lights flooded the outside.
    â€œWe’re here,” Asia announced, jumping out of the car. “Come on, Nikki. Let’s go say ‘Happy Birthday’ to Trevor.”
    Afrika slid out of the car and exhaled. Flashbacks of Asia’s father staring at her like she’d been reincarnated and her mother’s messages to be careful of getting too close to Asia’s family made her feel ill-at-ease. She looked at the large, massive house and sighed.
    â€œCome on, Nikki. What’s taking you so long?”
    â€œYou forgot Trevor’s gift in the back seat. I’ll get it for you.”
    Afrika grabbed Trevor’s gift, closed the car door, and walked to the front of the car where Asia stood. Asia put her arm through Afrika’s. “Okay, girl, let’s meet the folks.”
    For most of Afrika’s life, she had lived in one military housing area or another. Although their quarters were befitting the officer that her father was, nothing had prepped her for the gorgeous, upscale dwelling that Asia and her family resided in. And according to Asia, her mother, Dr. Brenda Christianson, was doing quite well for herself and was often asked to provide retrospective insight on some subject related to her profession and some current economic crisis on a local news show.
    The house was tri-level with wall-to-wall hardwood flooring covered with expensive Chinese rugs. The rooms were painted in light pastels to give it an airy feeling. The living room opened up to a cathedral ceiling with a balcony that connected some of the second-story rooms to the other. A large, spacious kitchen tiledin black and white sat in the center of the house and contained modern stainless steel appliances to include a state of the art industrial oven, a huge pantry, and more cabinet space than one could imagine. A long black and white granite counter that could serve as a table ran the length of the kitchen. The dining room mirrored the colors in the kitchen, with a table that sat ten and a china cabinet finished in highly polished black lacquer. A long hallway led from one side of the kitchen to a cabana that contained a large stainless steel grill and miniature fridge, and swank patio furniture in colors of orange and yellow that connected to a hot tub with stairs that dropped down to the swimming pool. On the lower level of the house was a large game room that housed a professional size pool table, jukebox, and popcorn machine that sat right outside of the theater room that housed thirteen velvet high-back seats and a large retractable screen and a projector.
    Afrika’s lip was still on the ground after her tour. The uneasiness she first felt had long since vanished; she felt right at home. And Trevor was just as crazy as Asia said he was; especially after he recovered from seeing his sister in double. Even the cat, Afrika hated cats, didn’t understand what the fuss was all about and retreated to an undisclosed portion of the house.
    â€œWhere are Mom and Dad?” Asia asked Trevor. “I’m sure Mom baked a cake for your seventeenth birthday.”
    â€œAsia, please. I’m too old for birthday cake and ice cream. But I’ll gladly accept that package over there that looks like my birthday present.” Trevor walked to the table where Afrika had dropped his present and picked it up. He shook it this way and then that. “Sis, I hope this is my favorite pair of sneaks that I’ve been talking about all summer.”
    â€œYou’ll have to open it up and find out.”
    Trevor tore the paper from the oblong box. “Yeah, Mom