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“Can you stand?” Flint’s voice was way too raspy for Axel’s liking, as though he was trying to hide his distress.
Mary nodded and leaned heavily on her husband as she raised to her feet.
“Why won’t you tell me what you saw?” Daisy gritted out.
“I don’t know what I saw, mija.” Mary shook her head. “I… I don’t know.”
“You say you trust me, but you’re keeping things from me.”
Mary grasped Daisy by the loose fabric at her sternum. At first it looked like she was going to attack, and Axel stepped forward to intervene, but then Mary’s fingers flattened over Daisy’s heart, and she patted. Her face softened and she whispered with such pain in her eyes.
“Daisy, it was always meant to be you.” She patted her again. “Gloria made you special, so you have the tools to lead this family. It was never meant to be me or Parker.”
“Parker was born to lead,” Daisy quipped.
“Maybe with this.” Mary tapped Daisy’s head. “But you lead with this.” She tapped Daisy on the breastbone. “Do you understand?”
“No.” Daisy’s exasperated tone sounded an inch from snapping. “Because mine is broken.”
Mary glanced at Axel. “Not for long.”
Daisy’s cheeks turned pink, and she started scratching her palms. She shook her head and then stared at Mary for a moment longer before announcing. “I’m going now. Axel, you stay here.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” He stopped her just as she got to the door. He had no idea what had passed between Daisy and Mary, but it felt significant. Somehow, he knew Mary would be on his side about this. He wouldn’t be left behind.
“I have to.” Daisy’s eyes flashed. “This business with Julius has to end, and I have to be the one to do it. I know him better than anyone.”
“You don’t look happy about it.” She looked scared, resigned, but determined.
“I told you why.” She scowled and lowered her voice. “I’m not the hero. I will never live up to their expectations. You heard what Mary said to me. She puts me on a pedestal and I’m not that person.”
“So be yourself.”
“What?”
“I mean…” Axel surveyed the room. Everywhere he looked he saw goodness. From the matriarch of the family, to the way her doting husband cared for her, to the way the rest of them rallied to care for the baby who could very well end up orphaned, to his own sister mustering her strength to stay positive. He knew exactly what Daisy felt when she didn’t see herself fitting in here. But he saw the same thing Mary did. Daisy had something special. She’d survived decades of brainwashing, abuse and torture, and still she wanted to walk out there and make things right. She just needed to find a way to feel like she fit in. “I mean you’re perfect the way you are, Daisy. Stop trying to be their hero and just be you. Trust your instincts.”
She blinked up at him like he’d told her the most insane thing ever. For a moment, he thought he had.
“Your instincts have gotten you this far, Daze.”
A hesitant smile formed on her beautiful lips.
“You mean… just let go?”
“None of us are going anywhere. Just let go.”
