Page 110 of Rescuing Mia

As the meeting draws to a close, Ethan turns to me, his expression serious but not unkind. “Mia, I know this is a lot to process.”

“Thank you,” I manage, my voice tight with emotion. “Thank you for everything.”

Rigel’s hand finds mine under the table, his fingers lacing with mine. It’s a small gesture but one that speaks volumes, a reminder that I have someone by my side who will fight for me and stand with me no matter what.

But what we’re talking about…

It’s big. Huge. My life will never be the same, and I can’t escape the threats against me.

The walls close in around me as the debate intensifies, each option weighed and measured with a gravity that settles heavily in the air.

The room blurs, and the faces around me fade as the edges of my vision darken. My heart races, pounding erratically against my ribcage, and a cold sweat breaks out across my skin. My breath catches in my throat.

The air is too thick—suffocating—and my lungs strain with each shallow, panicked breath.

I clutch Rigel’s hand, my nails digging into his skin. I barely feel the reassuring pressure of his fingers, but it’s there, and I cling to the sensation.

The voices around me become a distant hum, indistinct and overwhelming. It’s like I’m underwater, the world above a distorted, unreachable reality.

I try to focus on Skye’s soothing words, on Rigel’s fierce promise, but panic claws at me. My vision tunnels further, a ringing in my ears drowning out everything else.

“Mia, breathe,” Rigel’s voice cuts through the fog, sharp and clear. “Look at me. Breathe with me.”

His other hand cups my cheek, grounding me, pulling me backfrom the brink. I force my eyes to meet his, locking onto the intense, steady gaze that anchors me.

He takes a deep breath, and I mimic the motion, struggling to draw in air as my chest tightens painfully.

“That’s it, Mia. Just breathe. In and out.”

Slowly, painfully, I follow his lead, matching his rhythm until the fog begins to lift. The room comes back into focus, the oppressive weight on my chest easing just enough for me to catch a full breath.

The panic doesn’t disappear entirely but recedes, leaving me shaky and drained. Rigel’s thumb strokes my cheek, his touch a lifeline in the chaos.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his voice a steady balm. “You’re not alone. I’m here.”

I nod weakly, clinging to his words, to the fierce protectiveness in his eyes. The team resumes their discussion, but Rigel’s focus remains on me.

Sam stands at the head of the table, his gaze intense as he outlines the potential ramifications of each path forward.

“The helicopter attack complicates things—they know someone took Mia, and they’ll expect us to protect her. Hopefully, they don’t know who we are.”

Mitzy nods, her brows furrowed in concentration. “If we create a convincing scenario that leaves no room for doubt, it could give Mia the best chance at a fresh start.”

The idea of starting over, of leaving behind everything I’ve ever known, sends a pang of longing through my chest.

A part of me yearns for the simplicity of a life untouched by the darkness. I wish I’d never discovered that tiny discrepancy.

I wish I hadn’t gone digging.

I wish I’d never discovered what Red Phoenix was up to.

Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.

But I know.

That means I have the responsibility to stop them, but how I wish it wasn’t me and that I could return to a life unburdened by the weight of secrets and lies.

Can I really leave my old life behind and cut ties with the people and places that have shaped me?

---