Page 8 of Bound By Valor

“There she is!” My dad announced his entrance,rather dramatically.

“Hey, Dad!” I sprang up to hug him, instantly feeling the comforting, familiar safety of being near both him and Mom.

“What do you want to eat?” Mom peered at me with that scrutinizing look only mothers have. “You look thinner. Have you been eating properly? Hitting the gym?”

“Let the girl breathe, honey,” Dad chimed in, giving me a supportive pat on the back.

“How was Hawaii?” I asked.

“Oh it was wonderful! It’s such a beautiful place. You should go there sometime. Perfect for couples.” My mom’s slight nudge towards me finding someone, didn’t go unnoticed. But I wasn’t really in a mood to address it. We talked a bit more about their trip until a comfortable silence enveloped us.

Eventually, we gathered in the dining room where I could finally enjoy a real meal, something I hadn’t prioritized lately. The first bite of the brisket melted in my mouth.

God, I missed this.

Sitting there, feeling a bit more grounded, I realized there was a difficult piece of news I hadn’t yet shared. Clearing my throat abruptly, I plunged in without any buildup. “Adriano is dead.”

Their heads comically whipped up. The shock on their faces told me they hadn’t expected to hear his name tonight—or any night, really. After nearly two years of silence on that chapter of my life, this news was a jolt.

Mom clutched Dad’s arm, her fingers trembling slightly.

“How?” Dad’s voice was tight, his nostrils flaring.

“Some other inmate killed him,” I said with a shrug that felt heavier than I intended.

“Are you okay, Ora?” Mom’s voice quivered, the worry evident in her eyes.

I met their concerned looks with a forced smile. Adriano’s death, while significant, didn’t drag me back into the abyss as it once would have. Sure, the shadows of his terror lingered, but now, my mind was occupied with more immediate concerns, like a fucking stalker breaking into my apartment.

Oh, and let’s not forget my road companion.

“I’m absolutely fine. It’s a relief, really.” My attempt at cheer sounded hollow even to my ears. “We don’t have to worry about bumping into him ever again.”

Dad cleared his throat, his expression skeptical. “Should we set up a session with Dr. Montez? You could do a session—”

“I’m fine, Dad,” I cut him off, perhaps too sharply. “Really, I think this is the closure I needed.”

Mom nodded, though her eyes mirrored the storm of doubt and relief warring within her. Dad, however, continued to scrutinize me, searching my face for something.

I understood pretty quickly why he eyed me like that. His next words sent an alarm ringing through my body, “Ora, honey… did you—were you in any way involved?”

“Oliver!” Mom’s hand landed a sharp smack on his thigh, a clear rebuke.

“I’m just asking! That man was the devil. He nearly killed our daughter,” Dad countered.

“Dad, no, I had nothing to do with it. Sure, I’ve fantasized about it, but you know me—I wouldn’tactually do something like that.” I raised my hands in a gesture of innocence.

“Good,” he sighed and gave me a small smile. “But we would’ve sided with you, anyway.”

It was bizarre, hearing my parents indirectly condone murder, even if it was just theoretical support.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else.” I smiled back.

Dinner wrapped up quicker than usual, and it was time for me to head back. I’d been picking up extra shifts at work, using the long hours as an excuse to stay away from my apartment. Ever since that break-in, I’d been on edge—half expecting to come home to another intrusion or worse, someone lurking in the shadows waiting for me.

During the drive back home, my mind replayed every detail of my visit with my parents, distracting me from the nagging anxiety. It wasn’t until the familiar headlights appeared in my rearview mirror that I snapped back to reality. The same car that had followed me in the morning was tailing me again. Oddly enough, this time it didn’t stir panic within me.

As I parked near my building, the car vanished as if it had never been there. I’d caught brief glimpses of the driver a few times—close enough to make out features that were unsettlingly familiar. Was it Zarek? Why would he be following me so openly? Shaking my head, I tried to brush off the creeping suspicion as I fumbled with my keys.

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