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“He’ll be okay,” Evan said, but I saw the worry in his eyes too. Jax was taking this new development hard. “But she’s right, Jax. This isn’t your fault.”
“My father murdered her parents.”
“And mine,” Evan said. “But Tomas’s actions have nothing to do with you. You’re here with us, helping to bring him down. Don’t beat yourself up over something you have no control over.”
My mother may have been a selfish, neglectful woman, but at least she wasn’t a monster like Tomas. I couldn’t even imagine what that must be like for Jax, knowing the horrors his father had committed.
“I agree,” Mason chimed in from where he sat next to Analise on the other couch. His arm was draped around her shoulders, and I still couldn’t get used to the idea that my bestie had hooked up with Evan’s best friend.
My gaze shifted to Analise, who scooted forward to the edge of the couch. Her eyes sparkled. “You know what we need? A girls' day out,” she whispered conspiratorially, as if divulging a grand secret. “We'll hit the city, do some shopping, maybe even catch a show. Just like old times.”
“No!” The shouts of Evan, Jax, and Mason came in unison.
I jumped, startled by the strong response.
“Absolutely not,” Evan interjected firmly, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His protective instincts were kicking in; I could feel them surging within him. “The last time Mariah went out in New York City, she was kidnapped. It’s not happening.”
“It isn't safe. Not with Tomas still at large,” Jax said, clearly siding with Evan. “We can't risk it.”
“Sorry, ladies, but I agree,” Mason chimed in.
Normally, I would’ve been furious over basically being forbidden from leaving the penthouse, but I couldn’t blame any of them for being overly cautious. I’d been kidnapped not once but twice here in the city. The very last thing I wanted was to be back in Tomas Hawthorne’s clutches.
“Analise, that sounds amazing,” I said, my lips pulling into a genuine smile. The idea of spending time with my best friend away from the chaos of our lives where we could pretend everything was normal was beyond enticing. “But I have to agree. It’s not worth the risk.”
As much as I craved normalcy and quality time with Analise, nothing would be normal again until Tomas was locked away or, preferably, dead.
“But you’d better believe we're going to have that girls' day when all of this is over,” I said.
“I’ll hold you to that.” Analise said, her eyes still shimmering with determination. “But it doesn’t matter. We’re in New York City, where anything and everything you could possibly want can be brought right to us.”
“What are you thinking?”
She grinned and stood, pulling her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. “Just leave it to me. If we can't go out for our girls' day, then I'm bringing the spa to us.”
Within a matter of hours, Analise had pulled out all the stops, having transformed the living room into a veritable sanctuary. Soft music played in the background, and candles gleamed gently. The scent of lavender filled the room, and a manicurist, facialist, and masseuse stood ready to pamper us. She’d sent the men upstairs with Sofia, telling them not to come back down for at least three hours.
“Analise, this is incredible. You didn't have to do all this.”
“Of course I did! How often do I spoil my pregnant best friend? Never, that’s how often. Besides,” she said, lowering her voice and giving me a wink. “Evan is the one paying for it.”
I had to laugh at that. Leave it to Analise.
“Now, sit down and let yourself be pampered,” she said, guiding me toward a plush chair, where a foot soaking basin was set up, along with a table where the manicurist had her supplies laid out.
While she worked on my nails, I tried to relax and enjoy the moment, but thoughts of Tomas’s looming threat, and the powerful, growing presence of my dragon kept intruding. Even so, when my manicure was over and it was time to get the massage, I hugged Analise in gratitude.
“Thank you for this. It means a lot to me. I’ve missed you a lot.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I’d do anything for you, Mariah,” she said, hugging me back.
After the massage, the facialist got to work, leaving my skin refreshed and glowing by the time she was done.
“Do you ever think about what I said all those months ago?” she asked as we drank bottles of water while the spa ladies packed up their things. “About just walking away from it all? Do you ever regret not doing it?”
I shook my head adamantly. I’d had my doubts from time to time over the past year, but there was zero doubt in my mind now. “Evan and I belong together, Ana. I don’t know how to explain it, but he’s my mate. It’s literally like he’s the other half of my soul. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and he feels the same. Even with everything that’s happened, everything that’s still going on, I’d never regret Evan, Sofia, or our baby.”
My hand came to my stomach, and Analise’s face softened. “I still can’t believe it. I’m going to throw you the biggest, bestest baby shower ever when all this is over.”
