Chapter 6 - The Doors Locked Again
Saint Juniper looked different when we returned.
Empty.
Silent.
The chandeliers were still glowing.
Roman stopped beside me.
“Stay behind me.”
“No.”
“Ava.”
“This started with me.”
“This ends with Lily.”
We entered together.
Dennis sat at table seven.
His hands were shaking.
Across from him sat a woman in her fifties.
Elegant.
Calm.
She smiled.
“Ava Reyes.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“Safe.”
Roman looked around.
“Where’s Mateo?”
“Also safe.”
I stepped forward.
Roman caught my wrist.
The woman noticed.
“How touching.”
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Victoria Pierce.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“Malcolm Pierce's sister.”
“Yes.”
I stared at her.
“You helped him.”
“I helped build what your father stole from us.”
“My father?”
“Mateo Reyes destroyed my family financially.”
Roman spoke.
“So you stole his granddaughter.”
Victoria smiled.
“We redirected an inheritance.”
“You destroyed three lives.”
“Four, actually.”
She looked at Roman.
“Elena complicated matters.”
Roman remained still.
“Where's Lily?”
Victoria placed a folder on the table.
“Sign away the Reyes trusts.”
I almost laughed.
“I don't even know what they are.”
“Our attorneys do.”
“And then?”
“You take your daughter and disappear.”
Roman looked at me.
“Don't sign anything.”
Victoria smiled.
“You're in no position to advise her.”
Roman’s gaze shifted toward the kitchen.
Tiny movement.
I followed his eyes.
A stuffed rabbit lay beside the doorway.
Lily.
She was here.
My heartbeat accelerated.
Victoria noticed too late.
“Roman—”
He didn't attack anyone.
He simply spoke.
“Mateo.”
The kitchen doors opened.
Mateo stepped out carrying Lily.
Two police detectives followed him.
Victoria stood.
“What is this?”
Roman looked at her.
“You thought I came here without knowing who you were?”
Her smile vanished.
Mateo handed Lily to me.
“Mommy!”
I caught her.
For the first time in my life, I held my daughter knowing she was mine.
She buried her face against my neck.
“I've got you.”
Roman stepped beside us.
Lily reached one hand toward him.
“Daddy.”
Roman took her tiny hand.
Victoria stared at us.
“This proves nothing.”
A detective lifted a recorder.
“Actually, Mrs. Pierce, you just admitted quite a lot.”
Dennis stood.
“And I gave them everything.”
Victoria turned on him.
“You idiot.”
Dennis swallowed.
“I've been an idiot for two years.”
The detectives escorted Victoria away.
The restaurant doors closed.
This time, nobody had locked me inside.
Roman looked at Lily.
Then at me.
“It’s over.”
“No.”
His expression changed.
I held Lily closer.
“The criminal part may be over.”
I looked directly at him.
“But we still have a problem.”
“What?”
“You're her father.”
Roman stared at me.
“Legally, maybe not for long.”
“I wasn't talking legally.”
He looked at Lily.
She squeezed his finger.
I continued.
“She loves you.”
His voice became quiet.
“And you're her mother.”
“Yes.”
“Which means you can take her.”
“I could.”
Roman's face gave away nothing.
But his eyes did.
For the first time, I understood what Roman Garza feared.
Not rivals.
Not police.
Not losing money.
Losing Lily.
I stepped closer.
“I already lost two years with her.”
He nodded.
“I won't lose another day.”
“I understand.”
“And I'm not making her lose you.”
Roman looked at me.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we figure this out.”
“Together?”
Lily answered before I could.
“Mommy.”
Then she pointed at Roman.
“Daddy.”
I almost laughed.
Roman did.
Just barely.
But it was there.
May you like
“Apparently,” I said, “she's already decided.”
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