Chapter 6 Away you go

“Can I eat?”

The words left my mouth cautiously, like the tension might shatter if I said them too loudly.

Liam didn’t answer. He didn’t look at me, didn’t acknowledge that I had spoken at all. He simply drove.

The silence in the car was thick, heavier than the anger from earlier, heavier than the blood I still felt stained on my hands. I wrapped my arms around myself, my stomach twisting painfully at the sight. I never even got to clean myself.

Just then, the car slowed. I frowned when I recognized the place. My favorite drive through. Burgers MC burgers. A place I have eaten myself away in way too many times. A place memories were made. I missed it so much.

Before I could process it, Liam was already ordering. He was very calm and sure.

“One large chicken burger, sour cream and ketchup on the side and, strawberry smoothie. No fries"

He didn’t ask me what I wanted.

He already knew what I wanted. He remembered.

I don't know what to feel at that.

When the bag was handed to him, he passed it to me without a word. It really was my usual order.

My throat tightened.

I glanced at him, shocked and unsure of what to say. Then I just settled on whispering “Thank you.”

He didn’t respond. Not even a glance my way.

But I smiled anyway, a small and fragile one. And ate quietly as we drove the rest of the way home, if I can even call it that anymore.

The house was dark and quiet when we arrived.

“The girls are asleep,” Liam said finally, his voice was flat.

"You don't know that" I said.

And he just sighed as if he couldn't be bothered with me. He brought me here. He shouldn't be annoyed.

I went straight to them. The girls looking peaceful as I quietly stepped into the room.

Lucia was sprawled messily across her bed, curls everywhere, her mouth slightly open while Lyla slept curled neatly on her side, hands tucked under her cheek.

I kissed them both, whispering apologies they couldn’t hear. Lyla’s eyes flickered open.

"Mummy?"

“Shh, go back to sleep my love" I rubbed her head and she shut her eyes. Then I went to the kitchen and drank water like I had been stranded in a desert. Everything feels so natural. Like I never left.

I felt his eyes on me. Except him.

“You’ll sleep in the room,” Liam said.

I turned. “Liam…”

He was already walking away.

I sighed and just went up to the bedroom. I am so tired of today. I wonder how I am still going. The bedroom was exactly the same.

Nothing was touched or moved. It was as if I had never left. My makeup sat neatly on the vanity. My skincare lined the bathroom shelf, untouched. Even the faint scent of my old perfume lingered in the air.

My knees gave out.

I slid down onto the bathroom floor and broke.

I cried so hard it felt like my ribs would cave in. Like everything I had buried, every fear, every loss, every choice I made had finally caught up with me.

For what I lost.

But I know if I was given the choice again. I would do it over and over. Because I will never let anything happen to the people I love.

Sometime later, after exhausting all my tears. Exhaustion dragged me under into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I woke up in the bed. Covered.

For a second, I panicked, thinking I was with him since his scent filled my nose. Then I realized I was alone.

Liam hadn’t slept with me on the bed. but I didn’t let myself dwell on that.

I just got ready quietly and went downstairs.

The sight that greeted me made me pause.

Lucia sat at the table, animatedly talking excitedly about a cartoon they must have watched at school. Lyla nodded occasionally, correcting her with seriousness far beyond her years.

And Liam…

Liam was smiling.

He listened like this was all he had ever wanted. Which it was.

I stood frozen at the doorway, guilt flooding my chest.

I had denied him this.

The door opened. Breaking my trance.

“Morning, sunshine.”

Julian strode into the room like he basically lived here. which he did. An evil smirk curved his lips. My eyes snapped to his, giving him a hard glare which he just ignored.

His voice carried waves into the room and Liam’s smile vanished instantly as he set his eyes on me.

I stepped forward and cleared my throat. Glaring slightly at Julian who just winked at me. “Good morning.”

Lucia and Lyla looked up and launched themselves at me.

“Mummy!”

“Where did you go?”

“We missed you!”

I hugged them tightly, kissing their heads. I breathed them in.

“I’m sorry, I had work to do” I whispered. “ I told you not to follow strangers and you did. Don’t ever follow a stranger again. Do you understand? Unless you want mummy to worry.”

“ We didn't mean to. We just followed daddy,” Lucia said. My heart stuttered.

“And how did you know that piece of information?”

Lyla answered calmly. “You stare at his picture every night.”

Lucia nodded. “And we look alike.” Lucia framing her face and smiling cutely.

I froze.

Julian clapped loudly. “Alright! Enough emotions for one morning. I still have an hour before I go to the hospital.It’s time you meet your new favorite uncle. Any old uncle you have is nothing compared to me”

He exaggerated his movements, crouching to their level. “Names, please. Quickly. I need to confirm the resemblance.”

They laughed immediately.

Julian had always been like that, he was effortlessly warm.

I turned toward Liam, wanting to speak.

All he did place a plate in front of me instead.

Pancakes.

He slid chocolate syrup and peanut butter beside it.

My eyes burned.

“Thank you,” I said softly.

He stood.

Kissed Lucia and Lyla.

“I’m taking them to school.”

I inhaled sharply. “Liam”

Julian shook his head at me gently. “Let him.”

I wanted to protest but I just nodded.

“Is Alyssa okay?” I asked instead.

“Minor concussion,” Julian replied. “She’ll survive.”

Then he grinned. “Unlike me who was Nearly murdered by a butter knife this morning.”

I laughed before I could stop myself. That's Alyssa alright.

He launched into the story of how Alyssa attacked him, refused to believe he was a doctor and that I kidnapped her and demanded proof, nearly knocked him unconscious.

“That girl is crazy. Why do you have crazy friends"

I was laughing my heart out when I saw a figure move from behind him.

Smack.

“Ow!”

Alyssa appeared behind him, hand raised.

“That’s what you get,” she said coolly. “For trying to lock me up.”

She turned to me and pulled me into a hug. “Are you okay?”

“I am,” I whispered. “Are you?”

“A bit woozy,” she said, glaring at Julian. “From the pills your kidnapping doctor gave me.”

Julian gasped. “Rude.”

They bickered a bit and that made my heart warm. She has always been isolated. The nature of her job have her freedom but it also meant lots of people wants to kill her and she couldn't have gone to Sicily with us. The mafioso would kill her on the spot. So I am glad there is someone she can fight with and not being alone all the time.

Until Alyssa had to go, she said she had a job she needed to do. And Julian wanting to follow her because she isn't cleared to do a job yet.

I was left alone finally.

The house was quiet. My body ached with exhaustion. I had nothing to do. Nothing but anxiety gnawed at me, creeping in with the silence. I moved slowly, checking locks,listening too closely to each creak.

When I entered the room, I noticed my knives, neatly displayed and untouched. Even my gun was exactly where it should be. A small sense of relief grounded me.

Then I heard a sound downstairs, soft and deliberate. Maybe it was the cook. But the cook won't be here till 4 in the evening. Something or someone that shouldn't be here was moving.

My pulse quickened. I grabbed the middle knife. Easier to throw and light on my hands.

I creeped downstairs, careful not to make too much noise when I saw her.

She was half naked with a dress that shouldn't be called a dress with the way I can see everything. Reaching for a wine.

My instincts didn’t hesitate. I flung the knife, perfectly aimed with every ounce of training and anger coiling into that single throw. Ready to take her out immediately.