Page 205 of Perfect Pitch

“Yes. He’ll be back in a few. He brought Nina’s too.”

My glands begin to salivate. “What else did he bring?”

“Me.” A deep masculine voice I know from my earliest memories causes me burst into tears.

I race past my mother and leap into the open arms of her oldest brother. I sob, “Uncle Jesse.”

He grips me so tightly my feet lift off the ground. When he places me back down, I feel my mother’s arms wrap around me from behind. For long moments, I just absorb the love. They were the ones who taught me I could do anything, be anyone.

I could lose myself in their love as it requires no demands, no asks. They just do. Even as broken as I am. But as time passes, I’m stronger and I need something more. I want a love that I’ll fight for even when hope is at its darkest. I want a lover who will do the same.

I want Mitch.

Uncle Jesse mutters, “Couldn’t let your Uncle Ethan have all the fun.”

“Fun. That’s one word for it,” I choke out.

“Should have brought my gun,” he growls.

My mother sighs. “We talked about this, Jesse. Shooting first and asking questions later isn’t the answer to everything.”

“It is when it comes to varmint,” he argues.

“Great. Then go shoot the four-legged ones in the alley. Leave the two-legged ones to Beckett’s security team and the police,” she counters.

“Besides, Uncle Jesse.” He pauses in what would be an epic rejoinder to my mother to focus on me. “We get what we deserve, didn’t you all raise me to believe that?” I shove out of his arms and step back.

Jesse’s face pales. “Austyn, no.”

“Austyn Melissa...,” my mother begins.

“NO!” I scream. They both stop. “This kind of pain isn’t going to go away with food and hugs. I lost my baby because someone killed it!”

“I knew I should have put a stop to this at Christmas,” Jesse mutters.

“Shut up, Jesse! You’re not helping!” my mother shouts.

I press my hands to my stomach as I debate running back to the music room and locking myself in.

For eternity.

My mother, ever the doctor, tries to heal me when my pain is the only emotion I have left to build on. “And you didn’t deserve this, Austyn. You just said it yourself, someone killed your child.”

Just then we hear my father cough. All three of us whirl in his direction. None of us heard the private elevator arrive. Or the people step off it.

My heart drops at the sight of the men in the foyer. Standing closest to my father is Uncle Ethan—I guess his business didn’t take long. Next to him is Charlie—who is as devastated as I am, I can’t bear to meet his eyes for long. And finally Mitch.

His face is a mask of determination and love, but there’s no surprise. Not even a little bit.

It’s him I drift towards. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

“Charlie came and told me. Everything.” He takes one look at my face and immediately asks, “What the fuck is happening here?”

“Watch your tone!” Jesse snaps.

“Watch yours,” Charlie snaps back, defending Mitch.

“Maybe you should stay out of this,” Jesse bites out.

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