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But I’d been wrong. Again.
Smacking my face into the mirror, I saw two figures fighting, but I didn’t know if that was my imagination, or reality once again. Before I could investigate, the pain encompassed me, my eyes sliding closed as everything went dark.
Fifteen
MILO
My life had never beeneasy, so debating the dilemma I was currently faced with should’ve been effortless. But I was finding Finley Reyes to be anything but easy.
From the moment I met her, I felt a spark ignite in me that hadn’t been lit in years. Being a Bellamy, expectations were placed on my shoulders from birth. As I grew, I bucked against them as much as possible, trying to find my own path. Over time, having to fight for the simplest thing wore me down. I hadn’t realized how tired and stagnant I’d become until I was helping two girls who’d been taken against their will and being forced to be part of a human auction.
It was at that moment I knew I couldn’t continue down the path I was on, attempting to play both sides—living the life I wanted by becoming a doctor and fulfilling family commitments when called upon. I’d ignored the more sinister side of things, pretending they didn’t exist, but I couldn’t ignore it any longer in that dark underground facility.
The Bellamys were criminals, and if I turned my head, I was just as bad.
Helping Finley was the first step in taking a stand against them and separating myself from my family. Over the past year, I’d become financially independent, setting myself apart from the Bellamys. After the Council had been taken down, it was necessary as everything connected to them was seized by the authorities, leaving the once flourishing Bellamy line barren.
And today, I would make the last stand against them, finalizing my separation from a family of crooks and murderers.
“Dr. Milo Bellamy,” the chancellor announced, and I smiled, walking up the stage to shake his hand. He handed me my diploma, and I walked over a few feet, moving my tassel to the other side. Posing for the photographer, I smiled into the camera, the weight of my achievements sitting proudly on my shoulders.
I’d done it. This had been all me.
Walking back down the steps, I shook hands with a few of my professors before making it back to my seat. Some of my classmates congratulated me in passing, patting me on the back. I wasn’t that close with most of them, having kept to myself, too afraid of being used for my family. It was a lonely life, always being mistrustful of others.
It was why Finley had been such a breath of fresh air. But as that one ‘90s song went, as soon as I thought I’d met the girl of my dreams, I was introduced to her perfect boyfriend. It was ironic that the first girl I liked was someone I had to rescue from my family.
Since then, I’d been wrestling with my feelings, while trying to be the friend she needed. It was nice, actually, because I got to be in her life without much commitment.
But for the first time, I wanted more. I wanted her to expect things from me. I wanted to be counted on. This past month, I wondered if I’d finally have a chance.
She’d reached out tome, needingmyhelp.
Finley Reyes made it easy to ride in on the white horse and rescue her.
“Congratulations, graduates!” the chancellor cheered, and everyone rose to their feet, tossing their caps into the air. I followed suit, but I couldn’t deny it felt lonely. I’d worked so hard to be seen as a nobody, so I wouldn’t be taken advantage of, that now, when I’d succeeded, I realized how sucky it actually felt to be alone.
Perhaps it was time to step up my game. I didn’t know what was going on with Fin, but I couldn’t deny my feelings for her had grown. This could be my one chance to show her I could be depended on as more than her friend.
Decision made and my dilemma over, I headed to my car, not even bothering with pleasantries as I made my way there. It would be unlikely that I’d see any of my classmates again, especially since my residency was on the West Coast. There wasn’t anything left for me in Boston.
Tossing the black gown and diploma case into the passenger seat of my car, I revved the engine as I pulled out my phone and clicked on the icon for Fin. She didn’t know I’d done this, but it felt like the safest bet to keep tabs on her with no one else knowing where she was currently. It was merely for her safety.
Yeah, I didn’t buy it either.
When her location showed her only a few hours away at an amusement park, I became even more curious about what she was up to. It would take too long to drive, even in my sports car, so I made a left at the end of the road and headed toward the airport. As much as I hated my family at times, I couldn’t deny that I’d learned to use my resources wisely. It was time to use some of my money to charter a jet. For some reason, I had a weird sensation that it was crucial I made it to her location today.
* * *
The sun was startingto set as I stepped into Raven Time. Even though the park closed soon, it was still full of families and teenagers as they hurriedly rushed from one side to the next, desperate to get in one more go before the rides shut down. The smell of cotton candy, funnel cakes, and fried chicken filled the space as I walked through the park, looking for the woman who’d stolen my heart.
In a naive way, I’d thought I’d be able to feel her, my body being automatically drawn to hers. But I didn’t see her anywhere, so I pulled out my phone in desperation, hoping I could pinpoint a more precise location.
“That can’t be right,” I muttered, looking around since the damn thing said I was right where she was. The only thing here was a funhouse and a hot dog stand, and Finley wasn’t anywhere. Shouting at the front of the line drew my attention, and I recognized the two guys. They were fighting with the attendant to let them through, saying they were with the girl who’d gone in already.
“Sorry, it’s full. You have to wait until that party is out.” The kid didn’t care that two guys twice his size were demanding to be let in. I’d respect the kid if it wasn’t at Fin’s expense.
Knowing that nothing good could be occurring if Asa and Cohen were blocked off from the front, I made a split-second decision to circumvent the line and go around to the back. It might be selfish not to let them know I was here or that I was finding a different route, but I couldn’t deny I wanted to be the one to rush in.
