CHAPTER XXVIII
“ W e’re back!” Tabi exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement as she burst into the room, clutching a bag of food.
Mya followed close behind her. Tristan and Aurelio were sprawled across the bed, completely absorbed in a brilliant array of colorful Legos.
Their attention snapped to Tabi when they saw the Happy Meals she was holding.
They tossed their Legos aside, leaping off the bed and racing toward them.
“Whoa, boys! Be careful!” Mya warned. “You could’ve hurt Gigi.”
The boys turned to me, their cute little faces etched with worry. “We’re sorry, Gigi,” they chimed in unison.
“It’s okay. You didn’t hurt me,” I reassured them with a smile. They beamed back at me before following Tabi and Mya to the table to help set up the food.
“I got you a burger,” Tabi announced. She marched over to me, a triumphant grin on her face.
“Thank you,” I smiled, accepting the burger and a stack of napkins.
“I still can't wrap my head around the fact that your aunt is actually alive,” Tabi said, her voice laced with compassion.
“I know, it’s hard to process,” I admitted.
“I’m so happy you have family from your mom’s side.” Tabi smiled lovingly.
“Me too. It’s weird. In so many ways, she reminds me so much of Mom. The way she talks and smiles, and her protectiveness over me.”
“What do you think is going to happen next?” Mya asked.
I shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“One day at a time, right?” Tabi winked.
I nodded.
She picked up my water jug, giving it a little shake. “I’ll get you some more water,” she offered, striding out of the room with the jug in hand.
“So…” Mya began, settling herself on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on me.
“So?” I echoed. I unwrapped my cheeseburger, eager for the first bite.
“Are you still freezing him out?” She popped a chicken nugget into her mouth, eyeing me expectantly.
I took a bite and savored the flavor, grateful for something that tasted good. “It’s nothing he doesn’t deserve,” I replied, a hint of defiance in my voice.
Mya gave me a sympathetic smile, her mouth full of fries. “I get it,” she said after swallowing. “Has he been in here to see you?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No, he hasn’t.” It was shocking that he was actually respecting my request for distance. Yet my traitorous heart craved him despite the pain he had caused.
“I’ve never seen him try so hard to redeem himself,” Mya said, shaking her head. “He’s over the moon for you, girl.”
“Are you trying to convince me to forgive him?” I quirked an eyebrow at her as I took another bite of my burger.
“Nope,” she said with a smirk, popping the “P.” “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told him.” She dipped a chicken nugget in the sauce and took a bite.
“You’re both suffering from stages of grief.”
I shot her an incredulous glance. “Come on, really?”
“Seriously, hear me out.”
“Hear what out?” Tabi interjected as she strolled in, setting the jug down before going to the table to join the boys.
“I’m about to break it down for Gigi,” Mya replied. A mischievous smile played on her lips.
“What?” Tabi asked, her brow furrowing. “Is this about Nico?”
“Yep. Now, shh!” Mya playfully snapped, glancing over her shoulder at Tabi.
Tabi rolled her eyes.
Mya turned back to me with an intense look in her eyes. “Denial. When you were taken from him, he felt that loss, just like I’m sure you did. You both shared a special and profound bond that goes beyond what any of us can truly comprehend.”
Tabi, with a mouthful of food, nodded vigorously. “She’s right.”
Tristan tilted his head, holding a chicken nugget to his mouth. “Mom, don’t talk with your mouth full!”
“Yeah!” Aurelio added, bursting into laughter.
Tabi stuck her tongue out at them, and they erupted into giggles.
“Anger,” Mya continued. “It’s a valid response to what he did to you, and trust me, he felt it the moment he didn’t see you in the basement.” Mya’s tone turned somber.
I concentrated on finishing my burger instead of responding.
“Depression. You’re feeling sad and numb, and that’s normal after everything you’ve been through.” Mya’s voice softened. “Then there’s bargaining. You both are caught up in ‘what-ifs’ and ‘could-haves,’ wasting your energy on things that are out of your control.”
I finished my burger, and took a much-needed gulp of water.
“And last but not least, acceptance. It’s about accepting the reality of your situation and finding a way to move forward,” Mya concluded. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
I stared at her, speechless, yet feeling the weight of her words sink in.
“You don’t have to say anything back,” Mya said. “Just think about it.” She rose to her feet and tossed the garbage into the trash can.
Just as my thoughts began to form, a sharp knock echoed through the room.
“Come in!” the boys sang, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at their enthusiasm.
The door creaked open, revealing a man with a badge around his neck. Mya immediately tensed up, stepping firmly in front of him as if to shield me.
What the hell?
“What are you doing here?” Mya demanded.
“I’m Detective Stone,” he replied coolly, casting a glance over her shoulder towards me. “I have some questions for Gigi.”
Mya’s arms crossed tightly over her chest, her stance determined. “You were told you need approval to come in here.”
“No offense, ma’am,” he replied with an edge in his tone, “but I don’t need anyone’s permission to do my job.” He moved further inside, and Mya followed him, her eyes narrowed as if ready to pounce.
“Step aside, or I’ll have to arrest you for obstructing an investigation,” he warned.
“Mya, it’s okay,” I interjected.
She shot me a fierce glare. “No. Nico and your father don’t want anyone in here who isn’t on the approved visitor list.”
“It really is fine,” I insisted. Just as she prepared to argue further, I raised my hand to stop her.
“Seriously, it’s okay”.
With a reluctant nod, she turned to Aurelio. “Come on, baby, we’re going to eat in the room down the hall while Gigi talks to this man, okay?”
“Okay!” both kids shouted, jumping down and darting out of the room.
Tabi collected her belongings, throwing me a reassuring smile as she headed for the door. “We won’t be far,” she promised.
Mya shot one final look my way. “I’ll be back.”
As she brushed past Stone, she added pointedly, “Five minutes,” before disappearing, leaving me alone with the detective.
Stone gestured toward the chair next to the table where Tabi had just sat. “May I?” he asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
Once settled into the chair, he took out a notepad and a pen. “I know you’ve been through a lot,” he began, his voice steady yet gentle, “but I need to ask you some questions.”
I nodded slowly, my heart racing. “I understand.”
Stone leaned forward, eyes locked onto mine. “Tell me what happened from the beginning.”
I took a deep breath, the IV in my hand starting to itch. I grimaced, the words barely escaping my lips. “I don't remember.”
His eyes narrowed, skepticism flickering across his face, but he continued. “Okay. Let’s talk about when you woke up in the grave.”
A shudder ran through me at the memory of that suffocating darkness, the panic of almost dying.
“Did you see his or her face?” Stone pressed, leaning in closer. “Any distinguishing features?”
“No. It all happened so fast.”
“Was there more than one person?”
I shrugged, feeling helpless. “I think so. But I couldn’t see them.”
“What happened to you before being buried?” Stone asked. “According to the doctor, you sustained significant injuries, including a miscarriage.”
My throat tightened, tears welling in my eyes. I couldn’t tell him anything—not when I knew that Nico and his family, including my father, would be implicated. I bit my lip, wishing I knew what they had told him to make sure my story lined up with theirs.
“Do you know who killed Nico’s mother?” he asked.
My head shot up, the words hitting me like a physical blow. “Wh-what?” I stammered. “Serafina is dead?” Why hadn’t anyone told me? I wondered why she hadn’t come to see me. “What happened to her?” I cried.
She had always believed in me and trusted that I would never betray Nico, and it pained me deeply to think she was no longer here. I would never forget the fierce determination in her eyes to give her son a good swift kick in the ass for keeping me in the basement.
Before he could respond, the door flew open with a loud bang, slamming against the wall.
“What the fuck are you doing?” a voice thundered from the doorway.
Nico.