It was discovered that Charles has a traumatic brain injury from the accident. The effects of it are severe. He has a difficulty processing basic things. He has very little memory of events in his life before the accident. The main things he remembers are faces. He knows who people are, but not the memories behind their relationship. He knows Molly’s his wife, but doesn’t remember marrying her. He knows he’s a successful business owner, but doesn’t know his business. He knows Sage is his daughter, but has zero memory of anything beyond her relation to him. No memory of her kidnapping, the accident, their only recently built love. Nothing. He’s almost childlike. He struggles with most tasks, such as reading and writing, he has an increased sensitivity to sound, and, honestly, overall he’s just completely different. Due to his age, previous health history, and the shorter amount of time he was in a coma, the doctors say he has hope for recovery. But it’s going to be a long road, still. A road Sage is fully committed to staying on. Even though it’s been a few months since the accident.
Molly, on other hand, is not as prepared to handle a husband that needs virtually 24/7 care. Luckily, they can afford home care, but Sage and I are there nearly all the time, taking care of him, keeping him company, anything we can do. It’s hard on both of us, seeing him this way. Seeing a man who was once so powerful reduced to a childlike state due to something my father did. The one thing Molly has been good for is keeping his business afloat. She has the intelligence and cut-throat mindset to do so.
Molly’s sucked as a mother. I’ve gotten a glimpse into what Sage’s life was like before it was so wildly altered. Her mother is downright verbally abusive to Sage at all times. She blames Sage for everything that’s happened. Not only that, but the bigger issue for Sage has been that Charles is in charge of Essie’s (Tammy’s) care. As some sort of punishment to Sage, she’s threatened to pull her care. Seeing as Essie’s parents are no longer around, this is serious. I’ve told Sage we’ll find a way to take care of her, but it would involve moving her to a new location. I have enough money from my time with Aaron and the stuff I’m doing currently to change the direction of his mini empire to take care of us, but not nearly as much as Charles. That sent Sage into a panic. She tried to explain that if Essie — she still calls her Tammy — was emotionally unstable, moving her would be traumatic. In hell, she explained, being moved meant you gave up. She’s scared that if they move Essie, in the back of her mind, she’ll think she’s been given up on and quit fighting. Essie has made some progress, thanks to the staff at the center and Landon, the agent assigned to her case. So that’s a problem.
I did sit down eventually and tell Sage everything. From the day I came up with my plan, to the two men I killed, D and Renner, to the night Aaron died. He was murdered by two of Adam’s men in prison that night. He died brutally. I never told Adam not to take mercy, but Adam apparently made it known Aaron was to suffer before he died… and he sure did.
Rose was notified soon after his death and did not take it well. Sven said she fell apart. To the point where Sven had her enroll in a few sessions with Lacey’s therapist. On some level, I get it, but on others, I completely do not understand.
He was a thief. A liar. A murderer. I mean he tried to kill her!
But the part I do get is that he was a father. To her, for seventeen years, he was a father and I have to remember that.
Today, Sage and I get a break. From everything. The nurse is with her father. Her mother’s working. It’s finally just the two of us.
I settle in next to Sage on the couch. I grab her tiny body and pull her into me. She snuggles into my side, letting her ever-present Kindle fall into her lap.
“Hey,” I whisper.
“Hey,” she responds, quietly. I’ve been gone all week on a trip with Gerald. I wouldn’t say I’m a good guy now. I’ve been a criminal my whole life. It’s what I’m trained to do. I’m not sure I could change that aspect of myself fully, even if I tried, but I refuse to hurt anyone anymore. I only do basic shit. Enough to support Sage and I and the decent men who were with Aaron, like Gerald. The rest I booted out.
I’m still dirty, covered in grime, bruises, and who knows what else, but I’m here. With her. She doesn’t ask where I’ve been, she simply holds me and lets me love her.
We’re mid-conversation about some erotic demon romance she’s reading, or whatever the fuck — I swear this girl’s shit is weird — when my phone rings.
When I see it’s Rose’s name, I can’t ignore it.
I look once at Sage.
Then at my phone.
It’s time we stopped isolating ourselves.
There’s no reason to.
“Rose, sis. How are you?” I answer gently.
* * *
Sage
Nix is gentle with Rose. He asks her how she’s doing. They talk about Lacey some, but it’s easy to tell when the conversation shifts to me.
I mean, he looks right at me. He always does that, but there’s something different about it this time.
Then I discover why he’s looking at me like he needs to read inside my soul. He says four life-changing words.
“Wanna talk to her?”
Me? Does he mean me?! I… I’ve always been kept separate from his other life. But Aaron has been dead for months now. There really is no threat to me. Not anywhere. I can’t imagine a world where that’s true. Sty, Z, and Marcus are dead. Aaron’s dead.
I’m safe.
I can be with other people.
He trusts me to be around these people in the mafia. I’m not too weird. Too crazy. The men seemed nice, despite everything they do.
“You sure?” I whisper anxiously.
Nix smiles softly at me. “Come here, babe. Wanna meet my sister?”
My hands start to shake and my eyes water. I’m meeting his family. Finally, I’m being included.
It’s almost too much.
I grab the phone, tuck it into my ear, and walk to the side. I’m almost scared something will happen and this opportunity will be taken away.
“Hi Rose, my name is Sage,” I whisper into the speaker.
“Hi, Sage!”
Her voice is enthusiastic and bright. Super welcoming.
“My brother finally lets us talk. I was hoping we’d meet before I started playing bingo.”
I feel a laugh burst out of me before I can stop it.
“I love bingo.”
“Oh, shoot! Sorry. I’m off to a terrible start. I meant no offense. I—”
I laugh harder. “I’m sorry. I’m just kidding. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Her beautiful laugh echoes over the phone. “Oh my gosh, I have to meet you!”
I look over at Nix and bite my lip. “I’d love to meet you. Do… do you text?”
She chuckles. “I don’t know how isolated Nix has kept you, but everyone texts.”
Hey! I don’t like that.
“He’s had good reasons for his actions!” I snap, feeling defensive of Nix at that.
“Sage…” Nix chides softly.
I glare at him. He shakes his head and smirks. He likes when I defend him. He can try to deny it all he wants.
“I’m sure. I’m sorry. Text me and we’ll set a date to meet. Oh gosh, I can’t wait for you and Lacey to meet. You two need each other.”
Why does everyone keep saying that?
“Okay, I’m-I’m excited.” And really overwhelmed.
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Seriously, Sage, I know you don’t know me, but thanks for always being there for my brother. I don’t know who he would have become without you.”
I look over at my guy.
“He’d be okay.”
“You’re so in love,” she laughs. “Text me!”
“I will.”
Click.
“Well?”
I run over and jump into his lap. I’m straddling him, kissing him passionately. My fingers run through his blond hair and hold his head back.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“No,” he says softly, eyes brimming with emotion. “Thank you for waiting on me so damn long, princess. Thank you so much.”
“I’m your ride or die, remember?”
He smirks. “Yes, doll. I remember.”
“Okay, then. Stop thanking me and kiss me.”
I release his hair.
Before I know it, I’m on my back. My green shorts are being dragged down my legs and he’s slowly sliding inside me, gently making love.
It’s so overwhelming, I cry. He kisses every tear.
“This is all I ever wanted,” I whisper.
… and once again, his lips are on mine, kissing me so hard everything else goes away.