I hugged my mother tightly, feeling her tremble, and then I stood up. The sadness evaporated, leaving behind a cold, calculating fury. I walked back out into the living room where Ashley and Irma were waiting, already defensive, ready to argue their right to be there.
They thought they were secure. They thought my brother’s name on a secondary permission form gave them power. But they forgot one crucial detail: I bought this land. My name is the only one on the deed. And they have exactly twenty-four hours to pack every single piece of their trash and get out of my parents’ sight, or I will ensure the police remove them in handcuffs.