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I may have been spoiling them.
“Holy crap!” Maya exclaims when she sees the Chanel label.
They both open their boxes at the same time.
“Just another thank-you.” I smile at them.
“My only job was to show up,” Max pipes up as she takes a large bite of her burger. “But I’ll still take it.” She smiles at the cross-body bag.
Maya squeals and thanks me by pulling me into one of her big bear hugs.
“You really didn’t have to do this. Anyway, is Nico ready for this shindig to be over with so he can find whoever is trying to—” Maya makes a slashing motion at her throat.
“He feels the same. We just want our time back.”
“I still can’t believe Cesare shot Nico.” Maya shakes her head.
“I can’t believe he didn’t do worse. I don’t even want to think about what my father would’ve done,” Lili remarks.
“Jet and Nora are going to make it, too.”
I inform them of my adoptive parents.
Our relationship has been on the mend. While it was never a cruel or abusive environment, it always felt more formal and professional.
After I returned, I took Natalie’s unmarked grave and gave her the dedication and headstone she always deserved, plus more surprises for the couple. I meet with Jet and Nora every once in a while now to catch up and talk about anything and everything, including keeping Natalie’s memory alive. I’ll never take for granted a six-year-old girl saved my life and allowed me to have the life I have today.
My adoptive parents smile more. Laugh more. Their grief will always live on, but there’s no longer a storm cloud looming over them.
“I still can’t believe Maya had me spending all summer with her plotting how we were going to bust you out of rehab when, really, you were just on an early honeymoon,” Max says, chuckling into her food before she stuffs her face.
Max is addicted to her work, so it’s especially nice to have her joining us for lunch. You practically have to carry her out of the lab kicking and screaming, which is exactly what we had to do today. Much like me, she’s a petite woman—unlike Maya and Donna, who were blessed with legs for days. But don’t let her fool you. She’s full of attitude and spunk. I’m forcing her to take my wedding week off. We have more than enough shipments to last. She also has no choice but to listen to me since I’m her boss.
“The betrayal! I had our outfits coordinated and everything!” Maya adds, looking at Lili, who just laughs at her.
“If we’re trying to break someone out, I don’t think our outfits are a priority, Maya,” Max retorts.
“So... don’t think you’ll get away without telling us. How did the rest of your evening go?” Lili asks.
“We made real progress.” I smile so hard my cheeks hurt. “I feel so much lighter. And we talked more over the weekend. Not everything will be solved overnight, but we’re finally on the same page. The same team. Nico agreed to no more interviews unless it’s for a worthy cause, and he’s going to talk to Marcella after the wedding.” I release a sigh of relief from expressing it, my shoulders relaxing.
“I knew you’d get through it,” Lili says sincerely, grabbing my hand.
“This is why I stay away from relationships,” Max chimes in.
“Amen to that.” Maya lifts her drink.
“Famous last words, ladies.” I wink.
There’s commotion where Tao is sitting. I spot another guard, the one my husband secretly assigned to me that he thinks I don’t know about, in the back corner. Something tellsme to get up and intervene before they cause a scene. I don’t want to explain this to my mother-in-law.
“Ma’am, please stay back,” Tao orders as he stands between the stranger and me.
“Anya, I need to speak with you. Please,” the stranger shouts from across the men.
There’s something about the desperation in his voice.
“Speak to her again, and I’ll make you regret it,” Tao chides.
