Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Seeing Mom's smiling face again is like a dream. Although there’s a sadness behind her eyes, she’s back, and that’s what I’m trying to focus on.
Aria’s barely left her side since she woke up, and in true Noelle Campbell fashion, she got herself discharged early.
The fact that I had to explain that we’re no longer residing in our homes, why, how and when it all happened made her pissed.
Mainly, because if she’d been awake, half of the shit she wouldn’t have let happen.
Mom’s always had an impulsive nature around here, and whether her influence would be good given the shit we’ve had to deal with is yet to be determined.
However, the moment she was free from the hospital, she went straight home.
Meaning, all of our men have been working overtime today to try and get the place back to exactly how she left it.
It’s a hassle, if anything, but if it’ll make her happy then I’m keeping my mouth shut.
Our family doctor has been visiting four times a day, to monitor her condition and spoon feed her medication because, yes — she’s been refusing to take them.
She hates being seen as weak, but she was in a coma for months, of course her body has weakened.
There’s nothing shameful about that, in my eyes.
In hers, however, it’s like her body has committed a crime against her.
With some guilt trips from me and Aria, she’s at least been resting…
Thank fuck, and we told her she has to listen to the doctor and not over exhaust herself.
All she’s been doing is reading books, knitting and having people over.
Of course, Aria’s always right there, seeing everyone and everything as a threat.
I close the door of Mom’s room behind me, sighing.
“What is it?” Cove asks, and I motion with my head toward the stairs.
I need someone’s perspective, and since Blair isn’t here, so Cove will have to do.
Fuck, with each day, I miss my Butterfly more and more.
This is just proof that I would never be able to live a life without her in it.
She’s my entire life now, and I live and breathe for her.
I’m just hoping I get to see her again soon.
It's killing me to respect her wishes but I trust her when she says this is what she needs to do. The only positive in this situation is that I know for a fact she’s unharmed.
Cove follows me downstairs to the kitchen area, and I pour myself a glass of water.
He’s looking at the glass with narrowed eyes, almost as if he’s waiting for me to toss it aside, and switch it with alcohol.
I’ve been sober since the day I left the rehabilitation center, and although I’m fairly confident I could handle a glass or two without it turning into an addiction again, I’m not ready to test the theory just yet.
Maybe sometime, a few years down the line.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mom is in denial about Dad’s death,” I sigh.
“Well, maybe it’s because he isn’t dead.”
“You and I know that,” I drawl out. “No one else knows, though. And he wants to keep it that way for a little while longer. I’m certain that by now, the news of Mom waking up has reached his ears. It’s odd that he’s silent.”
The day I went to identify his body was the first time I quite literally beat the shit out of my father.
The morgue was empty, and there was a singular body that was covered with a white sheet.
Just by looking at it, I knew it wasn’t Dad.
His body was different, and he hadn’t been dead for a long time for his body to start decaying at such a rapid state.
The motherfucker was hiding in the morgue.
After a mini-heart attack, and a small screaming match, I punched him.
The weird thing is, he allowed me to punch him, time and time again, until his entire face was bloody and bruised.
He deserves far more, but there was no time for me to actually give him a beating he’ll remember.
That day, it was as though I’d come alive.
It’s shocking how much his ‘death’ has impacted my ability to think straight, though Dad is proud. He told me as much; saying how much he needed me to pull my head out my ass and do something.
Now, the fact that I’m lying to both Mom and Aria weighs heavily on my heart. After everything we’ve been through, I hate having to lie to them – even if it’s for their own good.
“It’s Hudson... He always has a reason.”
I snort. “Yes, but I’m the one lying and covering for him. It’s not easy, Cove. I’m lying to the people I love the most and at some point, sooner or later, they will find out about it.”
Cove whistles. “Ah, I don’t want to be in your shoes when Noah finds out her baby boy has been lying to her, all hell will break loose.”
I groan, and the mockery in his tone isn’t helping. “Fuck off, Cove.”
“Alright, alright,” Cove lifts his arms up in surrender, though the smirk doesn’t falter from his face. “That’s not the only thing that’s been bothering you, is it?”
I sigh. “No. There’s... well.. Luna.”
Silence falls over us, and he looks away. The topic is sensitive on its own, and although I knew that it’d be me who has to tell Mom of Luna’s passing, it’s still something that’s wrecking me on the inside.
“How do I tell her that the niece she spent the past decade searching for, is dead? And that her only son… killed her?”
“Look,” Cove starts speaking, all the previous amusement gone from his face. “It’s a difficult conversation, for sure, and although Noelle is going to be a fucking wreck when she finds out, she won’t blame you.”
A bitter laugh comes from my throat, and I shake my head.
“How could she not? I still blame me, you know. I visit her grave daily, and it’s still not enough.
Nothing will ever be enough, because I am the one who took her life.
I was supposed to find and protect her. Instead, I took her life away.
She’s dead and no matter what anyone says, I’ll carry the weight of that guilt for the rest of my life. ”
“I know,” Cove says, his voice taking on a sympathetic note. “But somehow, in the end, it’ll all be okay. Your family is very strong, you guys always manage to pull through.”
I don’t know whether I want to laugh or cry.
I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard someone say that.
On some levels, it’s true. But this is vastly different than anything my family’s ever had to deal with.
I’m not certain there will be going back once Mom’s made aware of everything Luna and Dad related.
“Arlo,” Aria’s voice snaps me out of it. I straighten up, giving Cove a look that he recognizes immediately. No matter what, he won’t be opening his big mouth on this topic unless I tell him to. He wouldn’t risk his life like that.
“Yes, Squirt?”
I turn to find Aria at the top of the stairs. “Where’s your phone?” She starts waving her own around. “X is here.”
“With Raven and Theodosia.”
Aria nods. “Yes, let’s go. Cove, go guard Mom’s door. Just in case.”
Cove lifts a questioning brow, though he doesn’t protest. He climbs up the stairs, and Aria walks down, with a very serious and determined expression on her face.
“Is everything prepared?”
I nod, reaching for one of the kitchen cupboards. Earlier, there were too many people going in and out of the house, so it was the first place I thought of to put all of the things needed. It’s a new passport for Theodosia, cash, spare clothes, and some necessities a girl her age might need.
The only reason we brought her to the States is because her grandparents came here. Raven sent them a ransom note, telling them Theodosia was in the States. They dropped everything and came here, so they'll be going home together.
Why did he do that?
To throw them off trail in case he needed to kill her.
He didn’t say that, of course, but that’s why anyone in such a situation would do that.
A missing person never being found in America is more common than Greece, and the chances of a fifteen-year-old not being found, whether alive or dead, are slim.
“You’re going to be here with me, Aria.”
“Alright. She might feel more comfortable with me, since we’re similar in age and such.”
I nod. “Precisely. The house’s finally empty, and we can deal with this.”
The front door opens, and I grab the bag. Aria walks a couple of steps in front of me, toward the living room. Our people have done a fantastic job of turning this place back into what it used to be, with all the decoration, framed pictures and little trinkets.
X enters first.
As per usual, he’s wearing all black, and his face isn’t visible. He nods at me, then steps aside, allowing me to see the girl.
Fuck.
From the image I’ve seen of her, I knew she looked like Blair. The picture didn’t do her justice, because she could pass off as Blair’s twin without a doubt. The same eye shape, the same hair color, the same nose, and even the same freckles all over her cheeks.
“Hello.”
Theodosia takes a small step back, glancing around nervously. She’s only holding a small backpack in her hands, clutching it tightly. Her eyes are filled with fear, and terror, and my heart sinks at the sight.
“I’m not doing to hurt you.”
Her eyes narrow in skepticism, and I know she understands me. She’s fluent in six languages, which is impressive on its own. One of them is English, with the rest of them being Greek, Russian, French, Italian and Portuguese. At such a young age, she’s already an impressive young lady.
“Aren’t you?”
There's a slight Greek accent creeping into her trembling words as she takes a step toward X, who, to his credit, is trying his best not to look like he doesn’t want to escape right this instant.
He hates people getting close to him physically, but he’s putting up with it for her sake, which I’m thankful for.