Page 22 of Dark Consequences

“Raphael.”

This time, she’s behind me. Only when I twist around, there’s no one there.

“Raphael.”

Gentle hands fall on my shoulders and shake me persistently. I close my eyes to the dark forest, and when I snap them open, a pair of blue eyes focus on me.

“Mei?”

The little girl’s lip trembles as she stares at me with watery eyes. “I can’t find my mommy.”

“What?” I suddenly sit up, my sleep and vivid dream instantly fading away. I throw off my blankets and climb out of bed, mentally grateful that I wore sleeping pants tonight. Typically, I prefer to sleep nude.

Mei backs up, frightened by my quick reaction. “I want my mommy.”

Crouching down, I try my best to soothe her. “Hey, it’s okay. Sorry if I scared you. We’re going to find her, alright?”

Nodding, she reaches out with her arms. It’s clear what she wants, and without even thinking about it, I let her wrap her arms around my neck and then stand. Searching for her mother would be easier without her holding on to me like a sloth, but I understand she’s scared and seeking comfort as best a child her age can.

We leave my room and check the spare rooms, the bathrooms, and hell, we even check the pantry, but Lily’s nowhere to be found. She has to be inside somewhere…unless… I head toward the terrace doors. Unless she’s outside.

Opening the door, I peer out. Soft lights cast a gentle glow on the stone floor and plant-decorated corners. At first glance, the terrace looks normal. Until I spy a small shape curled up on the couch. I set Mei down and hurry over to her mother.

“Lily!” I exclaim, kneeling in front of her. She’s fast asleep and ice cold to the touch. “Lily?”

“Is Mommy okay?” Mei asks in a small and fragile voice.

“Yes, she just fell asleep out here,” I tell her, hoping the forced smile I give her over my shoulder reassures her.

Mei giggles. “Silly Mommy.”

Yes, silly Mommy.

I try shaking Lily’s shoulder, first gently and then more forcefully, but she remains motionless. When I move to gather her in my arms, she still doesn’t wake up. That, along with her blue-tinged lips, concerns me greatly. How long has she been out here? Why was she even out here to begin with? And without a blanket, too?

The foolish woman deserves to be placed over my knee for her carelessness. Her reservations and past abuse be damned.

As I gently place Lily on her bed, her whole body trembles. That’s a good sign, right? Better than being deathly still, but I’m not a doctor. For all I know, she’s about to have a seizure or something.

Climbing onto the bed, Mei snuggles next to her mom, and I cover them with a blanket before digging my phone out of my pocket.

“Mommy’s cold.”

“Yes, I know,” I agree, fighting hard to keep annoyance and frustration out of my tone. I’m not mad at Mei but at her mother. Clicking on my sister’s name, I hope to God she’s awake at this hour.

Three long rings later, my sister answers, “Hello?” She sounds exhausted, and for a moment, I feel guilty about waking her. She graduates soon and has been working longer hours at the hospital, but then I watch Lily shake harder, and all guilt goes out the window.

“Gabriella, I need your help.”

I hear shuffling in the background like she’s climbing out of a bed and a low voice murmuring something before she responds with a muffled, “One second.”

Just because it’s not the eighteenth century doesn’t mean I need to enjoy hearing the details of my sister’s nightly activities over the phone. There was a moment when we suspected Dimitri Volkov from the Russian Bratva to be more than a “friend,” but that changed when Michael saw a woman on her knees sucking his cock at the Playground not too long ago.

“Must you answer the phone when in bed with someone?”

“Then don’t call me when I’m in bed with someone,” she bites back.

“Believe me, I’d rather not, but this is a medical emergency.”

---