Page 33 of I Survived and will rise again

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Christian's eyes widen. I can tell he is struggling to process the news. "Tennessee? That's so far away," he murmurs, his words laced with a sense of loss. "What am I supposed to do without being able to see Sophia?"

Sophia, who had been playing with her toys, seems to sense Christian's sadness. She reaches for him with her little arms and hands, babbling happily. Her wide and infectious smile makes Christian smile, too. "Can I hold her?" His eyes never leaving Sophia's face, he reaches out, as if hoping she will come to him willingly.

I flash a smile. "Of course." Sophia eagerly crawls over the table to reach him. Christian's warm laughter echoes in the room, and for a moment, he seems like the boy he once wasbefore everything went to shit. The memories of his past flood my mind, and I can't help but wonder how different his life would be now if fate had been kinder to him.

"So, will I ever get to see you both again?" Christian asks, placing a soft kiss on Sophia's head. Sophia jumps on his thighs and starts clapping her hands excitedly. Her little fist finds its way into her mouth as she bounces in place, showing off her adorable dimples.

"Well, that's what we wanted to talk to you about," I say, glancing over at Javi. "Christian, this is my brother, Javier," I say, turning my attention back to Christian.

"Your brother?" he asks with wide eyes.

"It's a long story, but he was able to find a way for you to stay close to Sophia," I say.

Javi's voice is direct and unwavering when he speaks. "I can't really say it's nice to meet you, Christian," he says, his eyes fixed on the man across from us.

I let out a small sigh. "Javi," I whisper, saying his name to prevent him from starting a confrontation, especially in front of Sophia.

Javi's hands are clasped together, and he leans forward on the table, his head tilted to the side as he watches Christian. His body language is assertive, and he makes it clear that he is not one to be messed with. Christian doesn't look even slightly intimidated by Javi's unwavering gaze.

"Forgive me, Sadie, but I'm staring at the man that beat the shit out of you while you were carrying my niece inside you." Javi directs his words at me but keeps his piercing eyes fixed on Christian. "You hurt my sister. Sadie may have forgiven you, but I sure as fuck haven't. You're lucky Jo didn't finish the job of putting your ass into the ground. Because I can guaran-fuckin-tee the result would be much different had I been in that basement."

Javi's words don’t seem to affect Christian in the slightest. His demeanor remains calm and collected. He wears a faint respectful smile on his lips and acknowledges Javi's words with a nod.

Christian's voice is heavy with regret as he speaks. "I know I can never make things right with what I did," he says. "Hurting Sadie is my biggest regret. Not a day goes by that I don't think about how badly I fucked up." He glances over at our daughter and then looks back at me with a sad expression. "Trust me when I say I wished hehadfinished the job." He pulls Sophia close to his chest and kisses her cheek. When he looks back up, his eyes are glazed over and full of remorse. "But," he says, his voice steadying, "I was given a second chance to be the man my daughter needs me to be." He turns to me with a determined expression. "I will never fail them again."

Javi's voice is flat and unyielding as he replies. "Good, but I still don't trust you."

Christian nods.

"For the sake of my niece, I have a solution," Javi announces with a stoney expression. "As an FBI agent, I can request a transfer for you to be stationed at the Tennessee state jail. That way, you can still see Sophia."

As if he’s overwhelmed by the unexpected offer, Christian gently pats Sophia's back as she falls asleep. He replies, "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Javi nods, his expression resolute. "If you accept, I'll talk to my superiors and make it happen."

Without any hesitation, Christian replies, "Yeah, I accept."

The guard's stern voice echoes in the room. "Time’s up!" He walks toward Christian, who is hugging Sophia tightly. Christian plants a lingering kiss on Sophia's head before standing up. Christian hands Sophia back to me.

"Congratulations, Reina. I'm so happy for you. You fucking deserve it and more." Christian speaks softly.

He pulls me into a tight embrace. I feel his heart beating against mine as he whispers, "Thank you for giving me a second chance."

My eyes fill with happy tears. "You're welcome," I whisper back.

As I step out of Christian's arms, the guard puts handcuffs on Christian's wrists, and Javi comes closer to me, placing his hand on my upper back. "Don't worry," he says to Christian. "I'll keep you updated. The transfer process could take up to two weeks."

Christian nods and gives me one last glance before the guard escorts him out. I watch his retreating figure until he disappears from view.

CHAPTER 12

Sadie

I've felt a sense of emptiness since Donnie left for Tennessee. It's hard to describe the feeling of missing someone so much that it aches. Even though we have been able to keep in touch daily, it's different from having him here with me in person. I miss touching him, holding his hand, and feeling his presence beside me. Our nightly Skype calls have become the highlight of my day, and I look forward to seeing his face and hearing his voice.

AN HOUR AGO

I sat down on my bed and opened my laptop. I dialed Donnie's number on Skype and waited anxiously for him to pick up. After a few moments, his handsome face appeared on the screen. From the wet hair and towel wrapped over his shoulders, it seemed he had just finished showering.

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