Chapter 44 #3
Long after we’ve called it a night and everyone's retired to their own room, I find myself staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. I chose to stay with Briggs, seeing the panic in his eyes when he feared I might leave with one of the others. Hudson is nestled between us, his soft little snores serving as background noise. But even in sleep, Briggs’ arm is slung across our pillows, his hand resting on my shoulder so we never lose contact.
It doesn’t take long before the baby shifts and puts pressure on my bladder.
Carefully extracting myself, I’m halted when Briggs’ fingers tighten around my T-shirt.
“Don’t leave me, Angel,” he mumbles, but I’m fairly certain he’s still asleep, his unconscious mind giving voice to his fears.
“Never,” I promise, brushing a kiss to his and Hudson’s head.
After I’ve finished in the bathroom, I head towards the kitchen for a glass of water.
I’ve barely made it a few steps when my phone chimes, alerting me that I have a new email from Seth’s estate attorney.
Scanning it quickly, my shoulders slump when I realize the funds have been transferred from the sale of the house, as well as Seth’s bank accounts.
It’s a relief to have financial security, but I hate the reason I have it.
Pocketing my phone, I continue forward, refusing to dwell on it.
I’m not expecting anyone else to be up at this hour, so when I round the corner and find Mia seated at the island, the glow of her laptop illuminating her face, it takes me by surprise.
“Shit, you scared me,” I laugh quietly, placing my palm over my racing heart.
“Sorry,” she grimaces, shoving aside her work and pressing her fingers to her temples.
“I’ve been staring at this screen for so long, my vision is starting to blur.
” Mia tilts her head, assessing me in the same way her brother does.
“You’re up late. You doing okay?” Her nose scrunches as she hurries to backtrack.
“Forget I even asked that. Of course you’re not.
But for the record, I’m in fucking awe of you. ”
“Me?” I question in confusion. “Why?”
“Obviously you,” she snorts. “And I’m in awe of you because you’ve gone through something most people will never be able to fully understand, and yet you’ve somehow come out the other side with your humanity still intact.
That you didn’t let them change who you are at your core is commendable.
If it were me in your shoes, I’m not sure I’d even be recognizable to the people closest to me.
I’d harbor so much anger that I’d be nothing more than a ball of rage. ”
“Some days I am.” I shrug a shoulder nonchalantly.
“I have moments where I don’t want to get out of bed, and others where I don’t think there’s any sentence my abusers could receive that would ever be enough.
Where nothing short of them experiencing the exact same torture they inflicted upon their victims will suffice.
But then one of the guys will do or say something that reminds me of how fortunate I am to have such amazing people in my life.
Hudson will hit another milestone, and being able to watch him grow and thrive is a far better fuck you to Veritas than giving them any more of my headspace.
“I’ll always regret that Hudson was a casualty of their wickedness, but if there was no changing the outcome and some force greater than us had already predetermined our paths in this life, then I’m eternally grateful that I exist on the same timeline as him.
That even though I couldn’t stop him from experiencing the worst kind of heartache, I’m so blessed that Seth saw fit for me to be the one who helps him pick up the pieces and live the rest of his life to the absolute fullest.” I bite my lip to keep it from trembling, not having expected our middle-of-the-night talk to get so heavy.
“You were meant to be a mother, Andi,” Mia insists, her hand reaching across the counter to hold mine in solidarity.
“I’m so sorry that the hows and whys of it were out of your control, but I do believe you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
” I squeeze her hand in thanks, releasing a pent-up breath.
Shaking off the somber mood, I move to grab a glass from the cabinet and fill it with water.
“I’m sorry you’re stuck here for the foreseeable future.
” I scrunch my nose in a grimace. “I know that Raiden has put you in an uncomfortable position with Belmont.” I glance at her beneath my lashes, hoping to get a read on her reaction before prying any further.
Raiden was kind enough to clue me in to their relationship earlier this evening.
Mia waves her hand dismissively, seemingly unbothered about working with her ex.
“It’s honestly not a big deal. We needed to have an actual conversation that didn’t involve screaming at one another, so this opened the door for that,” she explains, draining the rest of her half-empty wine glass.
“I think we both know we’re better off as friends, and it’s nice to be on speaking terms again.
But I swear, the man lives and breathes work.
I have no idea how he keeps the hours he does.
If I even think about sleep, my phone chimes with an email notification.
I’m beginning to wonder if he’s using my computer to spy on me,” Mia groans, the sound a mixture of exhaustion and frustration.
Her brows dip in contemplation, and then she flips off the camera, just in case.
A laugh tumbles out of me as I step around the island to face the screen of her laptop.
“In that case,” I jest, giving a little finger wave at the lens.
“Thanks for all you’re doing, Belmont. I’m extremely grateful to have your hacking abilities on our side.
” I smile, feeling slightly foolish that I’m speaking to thin air.
Mia chuckles at my theatrics, but then her phone dings with an incoming text.
Her jaw drops, eyes flaring wide as she bounces her gaze between me and the laptop.
“He says you’re welcome,” she deadpans. Her cold-as-ice glare is the last thing Belmont sees before she slams her computer shut.
“Oh, that little shit. I’ve gotten undressed while fielding his stupid emails!
” I press my lips together to keep from laughing, unsure if she’s actually mad or not.
Despite her best attempts to bite it back, a smirk works its way free.
“I’m so glad I started doing Pilates. Eat your heart out, you dick.
” The two of us giggle like high schoolers, the moment far more meaningful to me than it likely is to Mia.
I never had any girlfriends growing up, but something tells me that Mia and I are going to be a big part of each other’s lives.
Once we descend into silence, I take a steadying breath and ask the question I’m afraid to know the answer to.
“Do you think Belmont is going to find proof of Cantmeir's involvement before they escalate?” I voice quietly, afraid that speaking the words aloud will give them power.
“I think he will.” Mia nods. “But I’m not going to fill your head with false promises. He’s doing everything he can, and if there’s something damning to be found, he’ll find it.” I exhale roughly, appreciative that she’s being straight with me and not sugar-coating anything.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Veritas has somehow managed to gain the upper hand, yet again.
How are people so easily persuaded?” I ponder, truly baffled that anyone would buy the nonsense they’re peddling.
“I guess I had this idea in my head that once we made it out of there and were able to tell our truth to the world, we’d have a veritable army at our backs.
Because who in their right mind could hear about the atrocities Veritas has committed in the name of some make-believe deity and think to themselves, that’s who I want to support.