Page 110 of Axe Backwards
I couldn’t hold it back any longer. All the pain and regret and guilt I’d been carrying for the last year rushed to the surface. Combined with the adrenaline and joy of the day, I broke down.
Vic held me, her head on my chest, as I cried. My tears fell right into her hair and she didn’t care. I’d never felt this before. The kind of support that held me up when I was ready to crumble.
“Let’s go to bed,” she said gently after we’d sat, wrapped around one another, for close to an hour.
We changed in silence and brushed our teeth. I hated that she’d have to squeeze onto the twin bed with me, but she didn’t seem to mind.
In the dark, she draped her body over mine, holding me tight and nuzzling into my neck. “You’re not ready to hear this yet, but you will be someday. So I’ll repeat it as often as I can until it sinks in.”
She took a deep breath and let it out, her warm breath tickling the skin at my collarbone.
“This was not your fault. It was a senseless tragedy, plain and simple. You are not responsible. You did nothing wrong.”
She clasped my hand and squeezed it tight.
“You’re doing exactly what they asked you to do. They knew if they had to leave her, she’d be loved by the best man they knew. They trusted you with the most precious thing they had.”
My eyes welled. I was too tired to fight back tears, so I silently let them fall.
“They live every day through her. She is how they exist in this world. I promise you, they know how devoted you are to her, and because of that, they are at peace.”
She didn’t look up, but she cupped my cheek and swiped at my tears with her thumb.
“So please, please, stop blaming yourself. Stop punishing yourself. Because that child needs you at your best. And she deserves it.”
Chapter 36
Victoria
My hands shook as I made my way to the office of Huxley Construction. I was due to sign the contract today. I’d have to come up with a believable excuse for why I couldn’t. And I needed to get more information out of Denis.
But how?
I’d reviewed everything with Parker and given her copies of the presentation and contracts. She’d laughed out loud at his tables. According to her, this was the textbook definition of money laundering.
I guess he really thought I was that stupid.
“Or he’s the world’s biggest dumbass,” Parker had mused.
That was probably closer to the truth. Either way, she needed more time, and I couldn’t sign any documents or piss off Denis in the process.
I had no plan, no strategy. Only a growing hatred for this guy and everything he stood for. I wanted to protect Noah and Tess and the entire town. This wasn’t only about me anymore. It was about my home, my people, and doing the right thing.
So I showed up. Being in his presence made me sick, but I was in a unique position to help, so I’d fight to bring the guy down.
“Victoria.” Charles was coming out of the office as I approached the door. He was impeccably dressed, looking like he was headed for the country club. “I’m afraid I’m running out to a meeting. Denis mentioned you were signing your contract today.”
I smiled serenely. “So thrilled to work with you,” I said, not quite confirming or denying.
“That’s great. We’ll take good care of you.” With that, he strode away.
After I waited for several minutes, I was shuttled into Denis’s office. He sat at his desk, laptop open in front of him. The thumb drive had been inserted into the side. If only I could get it. The damn thing probably contained enough information to end all of this and put the Huxleys away for good. But I wasn’t a spy. I wasn’t even particularly stealthy.
But I was a woman on a mission. I had people to protect, so I’d figure it out.
“Ready to sign? I can call the notary over.”
“Not yet,” I hedged, putting my coffee cup on the edge of the desk. “I have a few more questions, and you know Aunt Lou. She wants to be here too, for the ‘historic moment.’” I used finger quotes and a little eye roll to make it appear as though I didn’t agree. In fact, Lou knew nothing about this. She’d beat me with her cane if she thought I was getting mixed up in anything illegal. She loathed Charles Huxley.
