Page 71 of The Devil We Know

He raises his brows at me and responds, “Anything is better than the future he’ll have if he stays here.”

I scowl, knowing he’s right but not wanting to admit it. So, he adds, “The only path he has here is one to death. And half of the people you trust here would go with him.”

I wince, pain jackknifing through me at his words.

He’s right. If I end up caught with this baby here, it will be obvious that many people must have helped me. And just for that, heads would roll.

I say nothing further, rising to my feet and holding the sleeping baby out in front of me. I kiss his forehead and then his eyelids and bring his little cheek right next to mine. I whisper in his ear, “I love you.”

I pull back, knowing the tears are close to overflowing, so I clear my throat, and after one final kiss on his tiny little face, I hand him to Mickey and say, “You better go now.”

He takes the baby almost gingerly, cradling him in his arms, and I wish I could take a picture of what a pair they make.

I smile fondly, sniffling and then laughing softly as I say, “Seems to me you’re a little smitten, too.”

Mickey glares at me and huffs, “You stop that, now. I don’t get smitten.”

I laugh, feeling a bit better about my decision, and watch silently as he turns and heads toward the door.

He reaches for the door handle, and suddenly, I take a step toward him and exclaim, “Wait.”

Mickey stops, turns back toward me slightly, and raises his eyebrows in question. I don’t move any closer to him; I just say, “Tell them his name is Mathias.”

He looks down at the sleeping baby in the crook of his arm and then leans closer as he says, “Did you hear that, boy? Finally got yourself a name.”

He looks back up at me and nods, and I manage a smile as he then turns and opens the door. He walks through the doorway,shutting the door behind him without a second glance. I just stand there, staring at the gleaming wood, fighting back tears.

I clear my throat, nodding to myself as I mutter, “This is the only way. You’re doing the right thing.”

But that fact doesn’t stop me from walking to the door and pressing my face against it as I sob.

31

Explanations

Jessica

We all sit therein silence after Lilith finishes her story.

Carolina looks stunned, but Antoinette looks an odd mix between shocked and horrified, with an underlying glimmer of sadness.

Lilith glances at each of us and then focuses on Antoinette as she asks, “Do you have any questions?”

Antoinette frowns, shaking her head as she says quietly, “I don’t know.”

Lilith smiles, laughing humorlessly as she replies, “I totally get that.”

“Have you known this whole time that Matt is the Mathias you named?”

Lilith frowns and shakes her head. “No, not the entire time.”

“How long?” Antoinette asks with a frown.

“Mickey updated me after my initial resurrection.”

“And Matt has known since then, too?”

She shakes her head, then answers, “No, I told him a bit later when the whole question of how best to save Carolina was circling. But then Tony grew into a man, and the problem resolved itself.”

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