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She made a sound of protest, but I continued, needing to say this. Needing her to hear it.
“Maybe that's wrong. Maybe that makes me selfish. But I will always be eternally grateful that fate brought you to me. I know you aren’t happy right now. I know this isn’t the life you asked for or wanted.” I cupped her cheek, bringing my forehead to hers. “But I swear to you on everything I am, once this is over, I’ll give you a life so beautiful, you will never question fate again.”
She let out a little sob, tears filling her eyes again. “I love you for wanting that, and I hope that future is possible.”
“It’s not a possibility. It will happen.” I’d spend my entire life giving this woman everything she could ever want.
She gave me a small smile, and I sensed she was starting to calm down at last. “I didn’t know what to expect from this visit,” she said. “But it most certainly wasn’t this. How is the world this small, Evan?”
I shook my head. “I was just thinking the same thing. It’s crazy. But on the bright side, Leonardo’s confession could help with our case for putting Tomas away.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think he would testify. Why didn’t he tell the truth in the beginning?”
“Maybe he thought no one would believe him. I mean, it is pretty far-fetched. The idea of turning a human into a dragon…”
That earned me another small smile, and Mariah settled into the pillows, resting a hand on my chest. “Maybe. But he also admitted to plotting to kidnap a child, so he deserves to be where he is, even if he wasn’t the one who killed my mom.” She took another shuddering breath that turned into a long yawn.
“Why don’t you take a nap? You’ve been through a lot. That partial shift was something else. I’m sure it took a lot out of you.”
She yawned again, then grumbled, “I really just want to get our girl and go home… and maybe bite Tomas’s head off along the way.”
I chuckled. “No doubt your dragon will be fearsome, but I think sleep is in order. You have more than just you to think about.” I moved a hand to her stomach, where that tiny spark of life glowed.
She smiled, her eyelids heavy, and it was a matter of minutes before she was asleep. I watched her for a long time, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, and for now at least, she looked at peace.
She had shown incredible strength during the prison visit, but it’d taken a major toll on her emotions. I couldn’t blame her for being so shaken about the revelation that her connection to Tomas went much further back than we’d thought.
Jax needed to know what we’d learned, both to confirm its truth and to see how we could use it going forward. Careful not to disturb Mariah, I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up my text thread with him.
Me: New info from Leonardo. Turns out Tomas played a role in Mariah's parents' deaths. We need to dig deeper and find solid evidence.
My thumb hovered over the send button, my thoughts shifting to Jax and his own struggles with his father. This would be yet another blow to their already decimated relationship, but at this point he wouldn’t even be surprised.
I followed up with another message with more details, letting him know I’d call him when I could, then I hit send. Within seconds, my phone vibrated with his response.
Jax: Damn it. I knew he was a piece of shit, but this is next level. I hope Mariah is holding up okay. Thanks for letting me know. I'll look into it and see what else I can find. Stay safe, both of you.
Once I set the phone on the bedside table, I turned my gaze back to Mariah, her peaceful expression a stark contrast to the storm that’d raged within her. As much as I wanted to protect her from all the darkness in our world, I knew she’d have to face even more. But I’d be by her side every step of the way.
Tomas would pay for what he’d done—for all of it. It was a silent vow that I’d stand behind. I meant every word I’d said to my mate. I was going to give her the life she should’ve always had. And we would see to it that Tomas met the fate he deserved.
Chapter 20
Mariah
Jax paced back and forth in Mason’s living room, his gaze landing on me every few minutes. He’d been like this ever since we returned, wringing his hands, worrying over me. I didn’t know what Evan told him, but he acted like I was so fragile, I’d break at any minute.
“I promise you, Mariah,” he said, coming to a stop before me where I sat next to Evan on the couch. “I’m doing everything I can. I will be sure your parents get justice for what my father did to them. He won't get away with what he's done.”
“Jax, I appreciate it, really, but you have to stop this. I’m okay, I swear.” I reached for his hand, clasping it. “You do know this isn’t your fault, right?” Jax kept acting like he’d been responsible for his father’s sins.
He ignored my question completely. “You’re not okay, so please don’t try to convince me you are.”
I pursed my lips. He was right about that. I’d been in a rough headspace since the visit to the prison. Evan had done so much to make sure I was okay, but it was a lot to process, and I was having difficulty accepting the truth.
“Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you have to overwork yourself,” I said, concern tugging at my heartstrings. “We’re all in this together. You don’t have to shoulder this burden all on your own.”
“Don't worry about me, love. I’ve worked this way my entire adult life,” he said with a grin. “Some might say I even thrive under this kind of pressure. I know my limits.”
