Page 112 of Demitri

‘My dear Mia, I know all of this is shocking and a little terrifying, but you, my dear girl, can handle it. Inside this box is everything you need to get started. The key to the apartment I’ve used for years to meet with those who had secrets to tell. I’ve moved anything personal out, and it’s yours now. Use it, or return the key to Daniel, and he will know what to do.

You and Demitri are the ones we’ve been searching for, waiting for. The first time I saw you, I knew you were the one. That you fell into our Demitri’s arms and he couldn’t find it in himself to leave you, we knew you would be the next generation to take over. To watch, to learn, and to listen. To hear the secrets others were afraid of.

Both of you are uniquely qualified because of your individual pasts. The resilience both of you have shown to survive and flip off those assholes of yesteryear shows your strength, both mentally and physically.

Please do not go into this thinking there is no risk. You will face them. And you will overcome them. We will train you on how to handle them. We’d never leave you out there completely on your own. If you decide to do this, we are here for you. Both of you. Together, you are unstoppable. All our love, Aunt Linda and Sasha.’

The letter goes on to list all the names and locations of Demitri’s half-siblings and the locations of both the office we are to contact if we choose to do this and the house that Aunt Linda and Sasha have owned for the entirety of their lives together.

We stare at each other, not sure what to say. I look back into the box and find a keyring with six keys on it, all the same cut. Perplexed, I look back to Demitri, who shrugs.

“Something we find out when the time is right, maybe?” I quietly ask.

He nods, not releasing my hand to type.

Guess we have some thinking to do.

SIX MONTHS LATER

“Brodie, need an order of mozz!” I call through the window.

“On it, Boss.”

Thursday nights are still rocking with the college kids, and they do love their alcohol and fried foods. We’ve made it through the semester break and the holidays. I look at the ring Demitri gave me on New Year’s Eve when he asked me to marry him. We were on the beach in Diamond Cove visiting Aunt Linda and Sasha. And yes, she’s still Aunt Linda to us. Guess she always will be.

I look at the corner of the bar, full of my family. The one I made. The girls are all here, as well as some of the guys. Aiden sits with them next to Demitri. Grady is behind the bar with me, now a regular part-time bartender when he isn’t out rescuing people or guarding their bodies with his life. Demitri smiles when I look at him. His face is still a bit crooked, but I don’t mind. His injuries have mostly healed, but the scars will last forever. He’s not as adept in the garage as he was because of his fingers. His elbow causes him so much pain when the weather changes, and he’s got a slight limp from the broken ankle, but that hasn’t stopped him.

He goes out running every morning. Mostly to prove to himself he can. Then he comes home, drags me to the shower, and greets me with a good morning orgasm before we start our day. I’m not mad about it.

Both of us are in touch with the therapist on ANON’s staff, Claire. Demitri has been able to talk out so many of his demons from the past, and he’s lighter somehow. He doesn’t carry the weight of guilt anymore. Claire introduced us to her friend—and Daniel’s mother-in-law—Gloria, who it turns out was the therapist I was being recommended to. Small world, right? We all laughed about the coincidence, and she praised my man for his patience and gentleness with me. We met her a few times, and I still speak with her on occasion when I’m in Briar Mountain, but my own mental health is much better as well.

“Um, hi,” a small voice interrupts my daydreaming. “I’m sorry to bother you, but, um, I have a question?”

I stare at the girl, who doesn’t even look old enough to be in the bar, taking note of her appearance. Her clothes seem faded and too big, like she’s lost weight. Her face is pale, gaunt. She needs a good meal, that’s for sure. Her hair looks dull, clean, but a few days past a fresh wash. However, it’s her eyes that have my attention. The haunted look. It takes me a few minutes, but I recognize the girl.

“Lacy?”

She nods, and I look over at Demitri, who immediately stands and slowly moves to us.

“What do you need, sweet girl?” I ask.

“I need to know where I can find Aunt Mia? I was told she would be here.”

I nod, having already guessed. I smile at her and she relaxes. “I’m Aunt Mia,” I confide. “And that man walking toward us? That’s Uncle John. How would you feel about Brodie making you something to eat and we can go talk in the office?”

She smiles, and a little of the Lacy I remember is there. “I’d like that, but I’m not sure what I can eat.”

“I’ve got just the thing.”

I point to the office and speak quietly to Grady. Demitri has already moved to the kitchen to talk to Brodie, and I make eye contact with the girls before removing myself from behind the bar. All of them blow me a kiss, knowing I might not be back out tonight, and I meet Demitri at the kitchen doors. I pull out my phone and show him the screen.

Source: It’s time to give Brodie the key and make it official. He’s now family.

“Will we ever figure out who that is?” Demitri asks.

“Don’t know, but we can worry about it later.”

“Just one thing before we do this.” He smirks, pulling me in for what would normally be a panty-melting kiss, our tongues dancing with each other before he pulls back. “It’s been too long since I’ve done that, needed to fix it.”

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