Chapter Twenty-Seven
Melina
Mak looks at me in frustration. “How the hell did he get into your room?”
I’ve just told her most of the story about last night. “He said Moon knew.”
Mak swears. “That man needs to stop with the matchmaking or at least let me in on it. I’m pissed off and he’ll get an earful at breakfast.”
It’s Monday and my day off. I’m looking forward to some quality time in the gym sparring with Celina. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t thank me. I’m not happy to lose a good employee.”
“I’m not that good.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’ve only screwed up one appointment and I still think you did it to Lina on purpose.”
I smile and look away, giving my silent answer. “I’ll miss you.”
She pulls me in for a hug and I squeeze back. “I’ll miss you more, believe me. You’ll need to visit more often than Cindy and you’re always welcome here permanently if things don’t work out with asshole.” Mak and Celina both refer to Austin as asshole now.
“He’s my asshole.”
“That he is, girlfriend. Let’s eat so I can bitch at my husband and then I think I’ll join you and Celina in the gym.”
∞∞∞
Breakfast was wonderful and Mak bitched exactly as she said she would until Moon grabbed her arm and pulled her from the room. I heard her laugh, so I wasn’t surprised when she didn’t join us for a workout.
Celina was in rare form and I found my ass on the mat more often than it had been the last few days. “I don’t like your man leaving bruises on my man,” she says after I take a hard fall.
I couldn’t clearly see Austin’s face in the dark but his swollen lip was obvious when he kissed me. “He needs to move faster or my man will kick his ass again,” I say with an evil smile.
“I’m going to kick yours and leave a few bruises so asshole understands the consequences.” She does exactly that for another thirty minutes. I finally groan and refuse to get up.
“White flag, tap out, or whatever the fuck will make you stop,” I pant.
“Let’s stretch for ten and hit the pool. You need to soak or you won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”
“Who the hell do you work out with when I’m not around to trounce?” I still can’t catch my breath, and sweat drips into my eyes making them burn.
“Whoever has a death wish with Alex. He doesn’t like when the men hurt me, but I doubt I’ll ever fight a woman besides you or Mak, so I need to practice with men.”
“I think I’ve had enough for a lifetime if I can ever walk again.”
She laughs and places her hand out, which I gladly take. Getting off the mat isn’t easy. Resting in the pool for the rest of the day is. Gabriella brings us lemonade and admonishes us for being in the sun too long. We’re actually in the shade, but I know she cares and it warms my heart. I need a Gabriella in my new life.
I’ll admit to being worried about the changes coming, though. I never thought anyone could take down my brother, but now I have hope. My life has seldom been filled with hope and the feeling is terrifying. If something happens to Austin, I don’t know what I’d do.
∞∞∞
Three days later, I ride home with Mak and Caleb after a long day behind the front desk. It’s not that the work is hard or unenjoyable, but Lina gave me shit and I finally decked her. This puts her out of business until the black eye heals and she’s even more furious with me now.
“She’ll live and most likely won’t mess with you again. It was great to see and the other ladies will applaud you until the end of time.”
We both laugh and make a mad dash for the front door to avoid being roasted by one hundred and twenty degree heat. We enter and I immediately notice a large bouquet of roses. Mak walks straight to them and looks at the card.
She turns to me and smiles. “I think the asshole might be in love.”
I walk to the flowers and breathe in deeply. I take the card and open it.
You have the right to know it all. My history is in the box.
A
A metal box rests next to the flowers. It’s about eight by twelve inches and maybe five inches tall. I show the card to Mak.
“Asshole’s scoring points. Take it to your room so you have some privacy. I’ll tackle the wrath of Gabriella so you have time. Dinner in an hour?”
“That works, thank you.” I have no idea why the thought of opening the box scares me. Austin needs to be here to explain anything I might find inside.
I sit on the bed and fluff a pillow behind my back. “Here goes nothing,” I whisper and open the lid. There’s a note at the top.
I’ve put the articles in chronological order.
When I pull the note off the top there are news articles beneath it. I lift the first one, cringing at the headline.
Fire kills two
Investigation underway
I read the entire article and about the young boy found alive outside the house. Could this be Austin? The mother’s name is Watts not Miller, but that means nothing. The next clipping stops me cold. The boy killed his mom and her boyfriend. I can’t believe it. He was twelve. The article says initial police reports claim he planned it. I go to the next clipping now sure this is Austin. It’s the why I don’t understand. The police uncovered possible abuse but the boy refused to talk. The last article is his sentencing. Juvenile until he’s eighteen and then prison until twenty-five. It also talks about his psychological profile and calls him a sociopath. My hands are shaking by the time I finish reading.
Why is Austin showing me this? Again, he needs to be here to explain. I start at the beginning and reread everything. There are other small items in the box—a gold pocket watch, a broach, two ticket stubs to a movie. I can’t make out the movie title or the date but they’re old. These items mean something to Austin and he’s shared it all with me. I can’t begin to understand the horrors a child would live through to come to the point of killing his mother.
A sociopath has no empathy or at least that’s what I remember hearing. Austin loved Victor and Cindy, so that doesn’t hold true. I also believe he loves me. It may not be the hearts and flowers…okay maybe it is, I smile at the thought of the roses downstairs. He sent me flowers and somehow, even with all his shit, he’s captured my heart. I return everything to the box and close the lid. Austin needs to hurry with the killing of my brother and come for me. When it comes to Diego, I’m a sociopath too.