61. Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter sixty-one
Adair
After we left the conference room and settled into Lynette’s office, she let out a deep sigh. “As much as I’m excited to share this with you, I have no doubt it’s going to be emotionally draining. If at any point you need us to stop, just say the word. None of what I have is going anywhere.”
“What do you want to show me?” I was more than intrigued, even with the slightly ominous warning.
She gave me a sad smile. “Things that belong to you.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “What could you have that’s mine? I never lived here.”
Lynette glanced to her left at a plastic storage box sitting on her desk. “For starters, I have originals or copies of all your legal documents. Birth certificate, license, passport, everything.”
I looked up, stunned. “How did you get all these?”
Lynette let out a sigh. “We acquired copies when the contract was brought into play and Liam said he was going to propose. There were going to be different documents you were going to be added to once you were officially and legally an Agosti. I don’t think Liam knew we had the copies already, and I’m glad I had my own set. ”
My anxiety spiked slightly. “Why?”
“Not long after you disappeared, so did the file of your paperwork Liam had in his filing cabinet. I was and am still glad I had copies of everything. It certainly made our meeting with Mr. Greene easier.”
I stared in awe at the woman standing in front of me. “So, paperwork aside, what’s in this magical box of yours?”
She pressed her lips into a tight line before walking over and opening it. “A few things.” Lynette reached in and pulled out a small wooden box. “This is something else that everyone thinks disappeared. It did, but of my doing.” She handed it to me. “Here.”
Curious beyond all reason. I took the brown leather box that easily fit in my hands, opened it, and almost immediately dropped it.
Inside was a sapphire and diamond art deco style ring that I always thought looked like an abstract flower.
Tears flooded my eyes as I looked over at what had been my engagement ring.
I wasn’t sure I was going to see it again, or if I even wanted to.
“I can’t take this, Lynette. This is a family heirloom… It belonged to your mother-in-law.”
Lynette shook her head as she closed my fingers around the box. “No, my dear. It was given to you. It belongs to you. Now, if you don’t want it anymore, I respect that and will find a new home for it, but never for one moment think you aren’t worthy of it.”
I swallowed hard and nodded as I stared at the ring. “I don’t know if I can ever wear this again. Not after what he did.”
“I understand, but know you don’t have to make any kind of decision about it right now, or even in the immediate future.
” Lynette patted my hand. “If it makes it easier to keep, think of it as a gift from me and all the Agosti women. Not everyone who wore it had it as a wedding ring. Some wore it simply because it had blue stones in the setting.”
Looking down at the ring again, I traced the edge of the flower-like setting. “That does make it easier, actually.” Maybe I could wear it again. Not that Liam had actually proposed with it. I shook my head at the memory of him sliding the ring box across the desk toward me.
I didn’t even get a proper proposal.
Before my thoughts could slide into darker places, Lynette started speaking again.
“I have something else for you, my dear. Something I’ve wanted to hand to you for a very long time.
” She reached into the storage container again, this time pulling out a rectangular silver gift box.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure it was even going to happen.
” She took a deep breath. “This was supposed to be a wedding present.”
My eyes went wide in shock. “What? But there was no wedding… Well, not involving me, at least. Why are you giving it to me now… or at all?”
Lynette set down the box and took my hands in hers. “It is my present to give, and just because I intended for it to be a wedding present, that doesn’t mean it’s the only time I could give it. Please consider it a welcome home present.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay?”
She smiled. “You’ll understand in a moment.
Now, the short version of the story is that I was going to present this to you once you legally became an Agosti.
Every person who has married into this family has been presented with what has become the Agosti Standard.
” She gestured to the box in her lap. “This is yours.”
I stared at the box, stunned and a little confused. “I… But I’m not an Agosti.”
Tears glistened in the corners of Lynette’s eyes as she sat up a little straighter. “You are to me, and that’s all that matters since, once again, it’s my present to give.”
Emotions overwhelmed me as I thought about all the conversations and arguments I had with Liam and Susan, both separately and together, when a thought punched through the fog. “Did Susan get one?”
The warmth in Lynette’s eyes went ice cold. “Absolutely not.”
My mouth dropped open. What? “Can I ask why?”
“She’s a Vaux, not an Agosti.”
I could only blink in my shock. “But she married Liam. She changed her last name. How is she not an Agosti?”
Lynette took my hands in hers again and held them tight.
“Let me tell you a little something about this family, my dear. Susan may have married Liam and changed her last name, but it takes so much more than that to be an Agosti. Because of dedication, loyalty, sacrifice, respect, and love for this family and its members, Ryan Smith is an Agosti. Gage St. James is an Agosti. Avery, Nash, Dante, and Talia are Agostis. You, my dear, have been and will always be an Agosti, regardless of your legal last name. I choose who I want to be in this family, and I will continue to choose you every day for the rest of my life, and even after.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I processed her words. “Well… I… Thank you.”
She pulled me in for a tight hug. “You are more than welcome, Adair. I love you so much, as much as my own children.” She leaned back and looked me in the eye. “And more than one of them, if I’m being completely honest.”
“Liam?” The question popped out of my mouth before I registered it as a thought.
Lynette nodded. “The man he’s turned into is not the man I raised. I had such high hopes for him.”
Stunned did not even begin to describe what I felt.
She pulled me into a hug again, holding me tight as I tried to process everything what she said. After a moment, I let out a deep breath and sat up straight, wiping the tears that had fallen.
“Well, I’m honored and would love to see what this treasured gift and tradition looks like.”
With a smile, Lynette stood to retrieve the box and placed it on the cushion between us, patting the top of it.
Hesitantly, I untied the white satin bow on top and pulled off the lid. Inside was a black gun case. Trying to keep from shaking too much, I opened the box.
It’s the most beautiful handgun with its engraved dark silver barrel and dark wood handle with the Agosti symbol etched into it. Then there was the black leather holster, also branded with the family crest.
Lynette smiled as I handled the gun, looking at it from every angle. “I don’t want you going through life unarmed. Now, I know you are an accomplished woman with many talents and tricks up her sleeve, as well as a gun of your own. I want to add one more option to the mix.”
I was touched and overwhelmed by the gift and its meaning. The fact she chose me over my sister was overwhelming, amazing, and healed more of my battered heart. Joy and excitement filled me, making me feel lighter than I had in a long time. “Can I try it out?”
The smile on Lynette’s face grew. “Of course.”
“But where? Have you added a gun range to the basement?”
Lynette chuckled. “There is a single stall next to the armory, unless you’d like to go to the range instead?”
For the second or third time today, my mouth dropped open in shock. “You mean, like we’d leave the house?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“But I’m in hiding… I’m not supposed to go places.”
Lynette smiled at me. “Do you trust me to keep you safe?”
I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of the question. “Of course, I do. You know that.”
“Good. Then I leave the decision in your hands. We can test out your newest tool here or at the range. Think about it and let me know.”
“If we go to the range, can Avery come too?”
A huge smile appeared on her face. “Absolutely.”
“When can we do this?”
Lynette picked up her phone, and it looked like she sent out a few texts.
“The earliest we can roll out is in an hour. Which works out well since I have one more thing to show you.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she reached into the box one more time.
When she pulled out her hand, all I saw was a hummingbird key chain hanging from something. “This is from Derek.”
My chest tightened up as I had to force a breath in. “What? How?”
“Not long after I sent you off to a safe house in Rodriguez territory, Derek showed up looking for you. When I refused to give up your location, he left and came back with this.” Lynette placed something small in my hand.
When I looked down, I immediately recognized it as a flash drive. “What’s on it?”
“I don’t know, my dear. He said to give it to you the next time you were home. I never looked at it.”
The tears that had been gathering in my eyes spilled over. “Can I use your computer to see what’s on it?”
She pressed her lips into a tight line before letting out a frustrated sigh. “Ryan would have a fit if I plugged that into my computer, but I know he has some cheap laptops for situations just like this. Let me get one from him.”
Lynette scooted out of the room, giving me time and space to process everything.
I couldn’t stop staring at the tiny piece of technology in my hands.
It was a standard-looking black thumb drive with a metal, ruby-throated hummingbird keychain on it.
As I turned it over in my hand, I saw the word Providence scratched into the casing.
Why did Derek never tell me about this?
My gaze moved to the boxes holding my ring and new gun, and I shook my head. The fact Lynette had kept them for me without knowing when or if I was ever going to make it back here was a testament to her faith in whatever plan she had.
As quickly as she had left, Lynette returned with a laptop in hand. “That man was dying to ask me a million questions. Oh well. He’ll live not knowing everything about everyone. Here you go, my dear.”
Wanting answers, I immediately opened it and powered it up.
“Would you like privacy when you open whatever is on there, or would you like me to stay?”
I looked up. “Please stay. If there’s anyone who is going to help me process whatever is on here, it’s you.”
She nodded and sat down on the chair next to me. “Then I’ll stay.”
After inserting the flash drive into the computer, a file window popped up with one video file titled Hummingbird. I swallowed hard and double-clicked on the icon. “Here we go.”
The file opened, and tears immediately spring to my eyes and spilled over at the sight of a slightly younger-looking Derek. One who looked exhausted, worried, and determined. My finger hovered over the laptop touchpad.
“You don’t have to watch it now if it’s going to be too much.”
I shook my head. “But I want to.” Before I could talk myself out of it, I started the video.
“Hey, Tori. I don’t know where you are or how you’re doing, but I had to at least try to get a message to you.
Mrs. Agosti won’t tell me anything, but that won’t stop me from looking for you.
I put in my notice with your dad. I can’t work for him knowing what he let your sister get away with.
I’m so pissed off.” Derek took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.
“She’s not going to stop until she finds you and finishes what she and Liam started.
I hope wherever you are, you’re safe, healthy, and happy.
If I never find you, please don’t stay alone.
Please find happiness and live your life as wildly and colorfully as you can.
Fall in love. Kiss the guy. Make your happily ever after.
We may be separated temporarily or forever, but I need you to live the best life possible, with or without me.
I love you so much, Tori. You are my heart, my sun, and my hummingbird.
I will never stop wanting the absolute best for you.
Take care of yourself and don’t ever stop wearing that cherry lip gloss we both love.
” He looked to his left and then back at the camera. “I love you.”
The video ended, and there was no stopping the sob that came out or the tears that streamed down my face.
I kissed the tips of my fingers and then pressed them to where his lips were on the screen. “I love you, too, Derek. If you’ve found peace, I’ll do my best to find mine.”
I’m not sure how long I sat in Lynette’s office staring at the computer screen before a warm mug was pressed into my hands.
“Please drink this, my dear.”
I brought the mug to my face and inhaled deeply, smiling when I smelled hot chocolate. After gently blowing on the hot liquid for a moment, I gingerly took a sip, letting the warm beverage comfort me. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Of course. As much as it hurt to watch you live through that, I’m glad you weren’t alone.”
“I’m never going to be alone again.”
A smile crept onto Lynette’s face. “No?”
I shook my head. “No. I know my real family has my back and won’t let it happen.”
“No, we won’t, my dear. Agostis never forget.”
Hearing the family motto come out of Lynette’s mouth sent chills down my spine. What wouldn’t she do to protect her family?
Eventually, Lynette walked me back to my room and tucked me into bed. “Please rest. We don’t have to go to the range today if you need more time.”
I nodded and closed my eyes, letting out a relieved sigh once the door closed.
More time passed before the door opened and closed again, and someone crawled onto the bed. When the scent of Peter’s cologne surrounded me, I scooched back to get closer to him. He wrapped his arm around me and grabbed my hand. “I’ve got your back, Adair. You’re safe.”
Fresh tears spilled onto my pillow as I nodded and leaned into the warmth and comfort and let my emotional and mental exhaustion pull me to sleep.