Chapter Thirty-Nine
Wasting no time, Mia Dialed Detective Daniels to inform him they had proof of Oliver's rotten core. He asked her to send a copy and assured her he would be in touch. Meanwhile, Oliver spent fifteen minutes banging on the door of Mia's loft, prompting Janet to come out and see what was wrong. He turned on her, screaming for her to “keep her bitchy nose out of it.” In response, Janet called 911.
When the police arrived, Oliver was still pounding on the door. He tried to flash his badge, but fortunately, Detective Daniels had already issued an APB on him, leading to his arrest. As Mia and her brothers slid the door open to let the officers escort him down the stairs, they noticed his face bruising, his nose still bleeding softly. Janet stood in the hallway, looking at Mia and shaking her head sadly.
“I always knew he was a bad egg,” Janet remarked before sliding her door shut again.
Detective Daniels called them down to the station the next morning, just hours before Mia's brothers were due at the airport. They each took turns in the interrogation room, with Matty going in first since he had recorded the entire incident. Mia was the last to enter, with Detective Daniels leading her back. Melvin wanted to accompany her, but Mia reassured him she would be fine. He relented and sat back down.
“Mia,” Detective Daniels said once they were settled in their chairs, a table between them. “I got a pretty clear picture from your brothers about what happened.” His notebook rested on the table, pen in hand. He cleared his throat before continuing.
“The video is pretty clear, but I’d still like you to recap for me what happened.” Mia recounted the events exactly as they had unfolded, with no changes or embellishments. Detective Daniels nodded, jotting down notes and asking questions for clarification. She spent a total of forty-five minutes with him, the conversation occasionally being distracted.
“Well, thank you, Mia,” he said as she finished speaking.
“What’s going to happen?” she asked.
“Well, officially, Oliver has been stripped of his rank as of last week's hearing.” Mia gasped, shocked.
“So, he isn't a detective anymore?”
“No, he isn't,” Detective Daniels confirmed. “I wrote to the chief, highlighting all the things he had been doing and how his behavior hadn't improved even after his suspension.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yes,” he continued, “but unofficially, his father is a very respected former senator who still holds influence in Washington. Oliver will most likely be called home by his father, disappearing from the public eye while this blows over.”
“So, he won’t go to jail,” Mia said, her tone sharper than she intended.
“Unfortunately, no, he probably won’t,” he sighed, closing his notebook and clicking his pen shut. “All of this will be swept under the rug. He will be punished quietly by his father, but they can’t afford for him to be questioned.” Detective Daniels appeared pained as he spoke, and Mia realized he was hurt by this situation too. Oliver had been his partner, supposedly helping to clean up the gang of car thieves. But now, the truth was out: he had been working from the inside for the bad guys.
“I’m sorry, Charles,” Mia said, reaching for his hand. He smiled at her—a soft, pained smile—and squeezed her fingers.
“Thank you, Mia.” Detective Daniels stood. “I have a feeling we will cross paths again. Be safe.” He ushered her out the door.
They quickly made their way home, loading the car and heading to the airport. Their flight was leaving at seven, but the time at the station had flown by; the clock now read six oh five.
Mia was already crying as she helped wheel Melvin's luggage while he looked through his phone for the boarding passes. Matty was unusually quiet; Mia had tried to talk to him on the way to the airport, only receiving grunts and “uh-huhs” in response. Now he appeared pale, glancing around anxiously. Wiping her eyes, Mia stood in front of him.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked just as a voice yelled from behind her. Matty dropped his bag and ran, Tony sprinting down the length of the airport. Mia gasped as they met, their mouths melting into each other. She watched her brother lift Tony, spinning him around.
“Anthony!” Matty yelled, his eyes glistening. “You came.”
“Of course I did, Matthew!” Tony replied, kissing Matty again. “I love you, you big idiot.” Mia placed her hand over her mouth, watching the two men kiss and profess their love. Her heart gave a soft patter. Melvin stepped forward, but Mia shot her hand out to stop him.
“Wait,” she said softly. “Give him a minute.” Melvin nodded, stepping back.
She watched as the men exchanged words and tears. Matty pulled Tony close, wrapping his hands around his waist. Tony asked him something, and suddenly Matty nodded, lifting Tony into the air once more. They ran over to the others, hand in hand.
“I’m not coming back yet,” Matty said, breathless. “I’m staying for a little while longer.” He eyed Tony, who smiled wide.
“At least until I sell the café,” Tony added. Mia smiled, tears welling in her eyes again.
“Well, Mia can take your ticket,” Melvin said matter-of-factly. Mia looked at him, shaking her head.
“No, I can’t,” she replied, stepping back from Melvin.
“Yes, you can and should,” Melvin insisted. “Mia, leave this place. Come home.”
“Melvin, Aurelio’s here.”
“Where?” he asked, his tone cruel, breaking her already shattered heart further.
“BFG, this isn’t funny.”
“I’m not joking, bug.” Melvin leaned down, wrapping his arms around her. “Come home, be with your family.”
“Aurelio is my family,” she said, her eyes set, the tears gone. “He is my future, my hopes, my dreams.”
“Mia,” Melvin began, but Mikey punched him.
“Go,” Mikey urged. “Come home when, if, you want.” She smiled at Mikey as he took the suitcase from her hands.
“Go, be with your future. Your past will always be there.” Mikey leaned in, hugging Mia tightly. She smiled, turning to Melvin and holding his nose.
“I love you, BFG,” she said, throwing her arms around him. “I will come home, I promise. But I need to see this through.” Melvin nodded, smiling. The two of them made their way to security, Mia waving as they departed.
Matty drove home with Tony, heading to Tony’s place. Mia found herself alone in her loft once more. The space felt empty, all too wide. The air mattress was rolled up in the corner, the blankets folded neatly. As she walked around the room, memories flooded her mind.
Mia took out her phone, her last messages with Aurelio popping up. It had been twenty-four hours since she had talked to him. She didn’t know where he was, what he was doing, or anything, but she was choosing him—choosing the life they said they wanted. She typed out a message, rereading it repeatedly before finally hitting send.
I choose you. Always.