Chapter 11 #3
“Is there a reason you’re so scared of them?” Dax asks, and it’s like all sound has stopped in the room.
I slowly turn to look at him as I continue to back away from Tucker.
“I would like everyone to please leave my home now.”
“Sydney, we are only trying to help you.” Dax moves toward me.
“No.” I raise my voice. “Leave. Please just leave. I can’t talk about it anymore.”
I drop my head. This is the moment. The moment I realize how broken and messed up I am. The moment I realize I have no choice. My life was written the moment I first heard that helicopter coming across the savanna toward us.
“Too many people have already died for me. Please just leave.”
I push past everyone and make my way to Mari’s room, where I find her sleeping. Before I step through the door, I turn back to my mom.
“Please take care of this.” I wave my hand to all of them and close the door.
I watch Mari’s little body as she sleeps.
She’s wrapped around a soft elephant pillow she got when she was born.
She’s slept with it every night. It goes with us everywhere we go.
The body of it is wrapped around her. Her little curly head resting on the belly.
Her arms clutching the leg so it won’t get away. Her breathing is even.
She’s crawling now and into everything. I know soon she’ll be walking. Everything I’ve done has been for her. I’ve tried to be the best mom I could be. I’ve tried to protect her, but I haven’t. I brought the war to our front door, and I don’t know how they found me, except for that news report.
Mari moves in her sleep, and I sit in the rocking chair, watching her. Waiting for my house to be silent.
Poseidon
I watch her walk through the door and close it behind her. I’ve never felt so useless, even the car incident can’t compare to the pain of her pulling away from me. And that’s exactly what she did. She’s blocking me out of her life. She’s giving up on me too, not just justice for herself.
“Her attorneys will be in contact with you both to see what you’ve found,” Sharon says to Dax and Maverick.
I stand there staring at Mari’s door, willing it to open and her to step back out to me, to tell me I’m wrong in my assumption. I hear the cops leave. Dax and Maverick following them. Wrenn and Aries leave, and it’s finally just Sharon and me.
“What did she go through? I know it was an attack of some kind. I know she begged for her life. Is this Bahati coming after her again? Is he the one who killed Mari’s father?
” I turn toward her, raising my voice with each question.
That’s not every question I have about Sydney, but it will be enough for now.
“I can’t answer you. She needs to. I want her to, but she’s so afraid.”
“Of what? Me? I’d cut off my arm before I hurt her or Mari.”
“I know that. She knows that. She’s scared of you getting hurt. Please just go for tonight. She needs some time. Give it to her.”
“I don’t want to leave, Sharon. I know she’s pushing me away because you’re right, she’s scared, but I’m trained to protect her.”
“Please,” she says softly, and I nod.
I grab my coat off the peg and look around the room. Of what I was building with her and Mari. I grab a picture off the hall table of the three of us at Jayden and Autumn’s pool party earlier this summer. I clutch it to my chest and walk out the door.
When I pull up to my property, I take it all in. Maybe what I need to do is make a home for her so she’ll see how serious I am. As I walk around, I dial my dad. He’s moved in with Zeus.
“Hey, kiddo.”
“Hey, Pops.”
“What’s a matter? Did Sydney and you get in a fight?”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I think about what he said.
“Nope, not a fight. She needs some time.”
“Time? What’s that mean?”
“Someone left a stuffed animal rhino with blood all over it on her front porch.”
“What the fuck? I’m on my way.”
“She wouldn’t explain what it meant and asked me and everyone who was there to help her to leave. She’s having her attorneys take care of it.”
“Son, you listen and you listen well. Don’t let that woman go. There is something in her past that she is pushing you away from. I know she’s doing it to protect you, but she doesn’t realize you are a badass and will protect them. Don’t let her do it.”
“She won’t tell me what’s going on. I can’t help her if she won’t tell me.”
“Didn’t you say Carter works with a couple of hackers? Or get Titan to look into it.”
“Fuck. You’re right. Give me a bit.” I hang up with him and dial Carter.
“Hey, hey, Poseidon, my man. Still hanging a little to the right.” Carter’s accent comes across the line.
“No, dude.” I try to chuckle, but he clues in instantly.
“Your girl?”
“Yeah. How soon can you be here?”
“I’ll be there within the week. I’ll have my guys do a search for her.”
“Okay.” I hang up, feeling better. I then dial Titan, who answers and says he’ll get me a full dossier on Sydney.
Walking back to my truck, I decide to head to the clubhouse and get my bike. I’m going to be keeping an eye on my girl, even if she doesn’t want me to.