Page 35 of Brave as It

She looks healthy.

She isn’t stressed.

She isn’t crying.

All the things I have imagined her being, and she isn’t visibly any of them. What in the absolute hell is going on?

She looks put together. Makeup is stellar and hair is back in a tight chignon. She approaches in her purple pantsuit with her red pumps and not a hair out of place. Patrick O’Leary follows behind her looking around as they go. He actually seems more intense and invested in the atmosphere than she is.

Anger consumes me. I’ve been played.

By my mother.

This whole time.

I should have known better.

How stupid am I?

Because of my bad decisions, Maritza has been shot, Hollis kidnapped, his mother dead, and now God only knows what will happen to Dia. If I am tortured or die, that’s okay, this is my mess. If Dia gets hurt in this, I’ll never forgive myself.

I gave up my entire life to keep my mother safe for nothing. There was never any danger to her, not then, not now. How the hell did this happen? How long has she known O’Leary? Was it really my dad and Reigns or my mother? In my process of healing from the gunshot wound, I didn’t ask many questions. Struggling to get through the changes in my life and body, I didn’t care.

I should have.

She stops in front of me, and Dia ceases her pee-pee dance going on alert at the presence of my mother. “You know this woman?” she whispers. I nod, but don’t speak.

“Emmalee,” she greets leaning in to kiss my cheek. “It’s good to see you.”

I jerk back. This isn’t some family reunion. What in the actual fuck is wrong with her? How is this shit happening. She can’t say anything that any of this is good. Yet, she’s standing here like this is a natural visit. I can’t hold it in as the words tumble from my mouth. “Good to see me? Handcuffed. You like to see me like this. Confused, scared out of my mind. I did everything you asked. Everything the man on the phone asked. One step at a time, I gave up my life and did all of this and you say it’s good to see me. My dad was into God knows what, he gets killed in front of me. I get shot and expected to die. You’re gone like the damn wind!” My shoulders twist wildly because I usually talk with my hands, and I can’t move them right now. “You called me. You said they had you and I needed to get away from the Hellions. You said in time I could go back but to keep you safe I had to get away from the man I love, the family who got me through the worst days I’ve ever experienced. I gave it all up so you could be safe. I’ve lived clueless for months and months waiting on a fucking phone call that didn’t come.”

She slaps my face. “Language,” she shouts at me.

“Fuck you,” I spit.

She slaps me again. “You will not speak to me like that. I am your mother.”

“What do you want from me? You have ruined my life. You called. You said you needed my help. Your life depended on it. You aren’t hurt at all. You lied!” I don’t know what else to say. I can’t process this.

She laughs, “I didn’t lie. My life does depend on you.”

I glare at her, “explain how I could possibly help you mother dearest. You look fine, healthy, nice even.” The disdain drips off every word.

“You always have tested my patience. Daddy’s little girl.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask my frustration growing. “He didn’t go out of his way for me and neither did you.”

O’Leary steps up. “Fuck the childhood trauma chit chat. Tell her what you need, Mia.”

“Your father,” she looks to the sky, “God rest his soul. He had a unique skillset as you now know.”

O’Leary is losing patience as he steps closer to her. “On with it.”

“I knew about it. I knew about all the money he skimmed through Reigns Enterprises. Only, he didn’t leave it to me like he told me he would. My security for a life without him was ripped from me. He promised me I would always be taken care of.”

“What can I do about that? He’s fucking dead. You don’t come back from dead mom.”

She huffs and smirks, “I know very well just how dead he is. Because of him, I had everything and now I have nothing. He didn’t honor his commitment to me. The money is my concern. It’s in an offshore account in your name.”

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