Chapter 8 #4
“And it’s not even about that. I had my parents. And they weren’t all bad. I feel like it was a blessing that you two were also brought into my life. You’re my surrogate parents, and I love y’all.” Finn rested his chin on top of her head and continued to hold her.
“You and Rose are my bonus sons. I wouldn’t have made it through the last month or so without you. Thank you.” Mila rested her head on his shoulder, and she and Finn reminisced until she dozed off .
Finn eased her down in the bed. Just as he was pulling the covers over her, he heard a light tapping at the front of the house.
The morphine drip put her right to sleep, so he kept the bedside lamp on and let himself into the hallway.
When Finn reached the living room, Minx rushed inside with Mille on her tail and Rose and Luna right behind them.
Thunder rumbled, and it was then that Finn realized that it was raining.
Shaking off the cold and rain, Luna rushed past everyone and dove straight into Finn’s arms. She had both arms so tight around his neck he could barely breathe, and she wouldn’t release him as she buried her face in his shoulder.
“Thank God you are okay,” she whispered.
Finn ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her cheek. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Finn, you just took off. I didn’t know what to think.” Luna pulled away from him. “They shot up my building, and you just left.”
“I had to take care of some shit. It’s all good though,” he said with a cute simper.
“All good?” Luna repeated, uneasy. “Ain’t shit all good about this, Finn! We could’ve fucking died tonight. I’ve heard about the shit, been a few blocks away from bullets before, but tonight… that shit was different. We were right there! In the line of fire!” She screeched.
Finn rested calm hands on her shoulders, and she relaxed.
“Babe, calm down. We all good,” he reassured her, pulling her into a tight hug.
“Where is my mother, Finn? Jonah called Rose. I know that she’s here,” Minx chimed in from behind.
She didn’t have time for Luna or her meltdown.Unfortunately for her, mayhem and madness were a part of her world.
“She’s in the back. She just took her meds, so she might be out,” Finn explained.
Minx grabbed Mille and led him down the hallway with Rose in tow. Finn and Luna were left alone, and she pulled away so she could sit on a nearby sofa. He could tell something was bothering her as he joined her. With his arm draped behind her, Finn studied Luna and lifted his bushy brows.
“What’s good? You a’ight?” He rubbed her shoulder while pulling her toward him so she could rest her head against him.
“I’ve known Minx almost all my life. I knew that mayhem and murder could go down at any moment.
I just didn’t expect this. And Minx… this is her norm.
It’s everyday shit for all of you. I guess being Minx’s friend, there’s always been things that she didn’t mention or times I couldn’t come around.
That’s why she was always at my house. I was shielded…
from a lot. Not Minx though. I mean, she was shot when she was just a kid.
Her sister was killed right beside her. Now Max— “
“Luna, I understand if this a lot for you. And you don’t have to pretend that you about this life for me. I wouldn’t ask you to be anything but what you are,” Finn insisted, reaching for her hand.
Staring back at him, she realized how much he loved her, and she him.
Everything became clear, and it wasn’t all the good stuff.
Being with Finn meant taking on his life.
He couldn’t protect her from everything.
She wasn’t invincible, and she knew that the good died young.
Sniffling a bit, she nodded and stared off ahead at a fire roaring straight ahead.
The room was dim, and Finn held her close as she let her thoughts submerge her in doubt.
“Mama,” Mille whispered, seating himself at her side while she slept.
He reached for her hand and held it in his own as his eyes misted.
She looked so weak. This wasn’t Mila, beat up and helpless.
Minx fought tears as she hovered over her.
Skin hot, head spinning like it would pop off, rage filled her.
Mila was so exhausted that she didn’t even budge when her son’s hand grasped hers.
“Is she okay?” Mille asked, peering up at his sister with a strike of fear gleaming his eyes.
She hated to see him like this. Moving as close to him as she could get, she draped an arm across his shoulders and pulled him into her as they both stared down at their mother.
“She’s a fighter, Mil. You know that. She’s going to pull through this just fine,” Minx said with her best cheery effort.
“We can’t lose Mama and Daddy,” Mille uttered, focusing on the woman that birthed him.
If he could, he would will her awake with his mind, but she looked like she needed to heal. He wanted that more than anything. As long as she lived to fight another day, there was a ray of hope that he was holding on to with everything that he had.