Page 107 of Love Me Not

She let out a huff before turning away, stomping.The next sound we heard was the slam of her car door.

Juliette came up behind me, her hand running up my back.My shoulders sagged immediately.Even just the smallest of her touches could stop the whirlwind my mind was going through.

“We have a meeting with Laura and Mia soon.Let's get everyone ready, hm?”

I nodded and let her bring me back into the living room, where Bella was back to playing her game as if she hadn’t heard anything that had just gone down with her grandmother.

She's so strong.If I were in her position, I wouldn’t know what to do.Nor would I be able to emotionally handle it.

“It's okay, Aunt Lux,” she said, just barely looking up from her game.“I'm not going to freak out anymore.I trust you and Juliette and that weird lady you invited to the house.”

I didn’t trust Mia.Not one bit, but I knew she’d deliver.

“You can trust me and Juliette, forget about the other girl.”I patted the top of her head gently.“But she will be useful, so let’s get ready to go meet them.”

“Okay!”she chirped and turned back to the game, hastily slamming her fingers on the buttons.

I gave her a weak smile, but I couldn't bring myself to be positive yet.I had won this battle, but the threat was still there, looming over us.

I have to beat her.I have to keep us safe.

Suddenly, Juliette was there by my side, her hand gripping mine.It was the strength I needed to keep going.

* * *

“I love some good ol’ blackmail,” Laura singsonged as she looked at the iPad Mia handed her with all the juicy details on my mother's drunk-driving experience.

“Drunk driving, indeed,” Mia said as she looked at us.

I held onto Juliette’s hand, feeling the nerves through our touch.As much as I wanted shit on my mother, I didn't want it to turn to this.Juliette didn't deserve this.If what we thought was true, there was no making light of this situation.

The lack of sleep was weighing on me, the stress and pressure of it all making it even worse.

We had decided to visit Laura’s office to make this more official.Mia was sitting on a chair next to her, handing her anything relevant, while Juliette and I sat in front of them.Bella was originally behind us, supposed to be doing extra homework, but she got bored and went into the waiting room to play with Laura’s assistant.

I didn't want to let her out of my sight, but as long as I could hear them, it made me feel much more at ease.

“There's not much here that proves it was her, though,” Laura said.“Do you have anything from the cop that got her off?”

Mia leaned over and started scrolling on the iPad before coming to a pause.Laura's eyes widened.

“It would seem like this cop was investigated multiple times for misconduct, especially related to letting women go for a little bit of action,” Laura explained, annoyance clear in her voice.

Disgust filled me.I really didn't want to hear what my mother would do to get out of jail, but if it meant I could keep Bella, I would.

I knew my mom was awful, but I never knew she would stoop so low.

She likely killed people, for God’s sake.And she just walked around every single day of her life, not giving a fuck.

“Can you just be straight with me?”Juliette asked, leaning forward.“My parents died in a drunk-driving accident that same year, and I need to know if this is just a weird coincidence.”

Laura let out a hum, her eyes looking over Juliette.Mia was the one who scrolled back on the iPad and started reading all the information.

“It was at night, on 124thStreet.Two victims, a couple.They were taken to the hospital, but they didn’t make it.Their names have been blacked out of this report… Which is a bit weird,” she added with a frown.

“She could have paid someone or traded another favor to get this blacked out.”Laura said it and shrugged like it was no big deal as she kept scrolling.“You'd be surprised with what some people are willing to do for so little.”

“I'll get you the names,” Mia vowed, her brows furrowed as she grabbed her phone.“I have a contact I'll reach out to.”

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