Page 165 of Unspoken Lies
“There were some things we needed to tie up before he could,” he explains. “Everything is settled now.”
“Hmm,” is all Mom says before releasing him to hug Liliana. “Lili, it’s so good to see you. Whose house is this?”
“Theirs,” Liliana says, looking at the ex-Kings.
Mom was so focused, she didn’t see them at all. That’s the way she gets sometimes, she completely ignores everything except what’s right in front of her.
“You,”Mom scowls, stepping away from Liliana to step toe to toe with Theo and Elijah.
Jared’s lips ghost along my temple once more before he releases me to take his place beside them.
“You took her from me,” my mother growls. My tears are silent as I watch her glare up at them. She’s not screaming or incoherent, but so damn strong as if she’s ready to shame them for their misdeeds.
The trial didn’t shield her from anything that was done to me, the photos of my blue lips and pale skin horrific. No one ever wants to see how their child was killed, especially when the wrong man is being framed for it all.
Such tangled webs we weave. It’s the story of my life.
Elijah hangs his head in front of her, nodding. “We did. We didn’t choose her, and we should have,” he says softly. “Rachelle is the best person I’ve ever known.”
“Was,” my mom snaps. “As in deceased, no longer with us, and gone. The only time I’m able to feel her is in the whisper of the wind, and even then it’s not enough.”
Oh God.My hand sits on my heart, listening to her. Things changed for both of us when she married Emil. Our relationshipevolved in a way I wasn’t prepared for. She remembered that she was my mom.
“I know,” Jared says softly. “I’m truly sorry for every lost moment, day, and year that has been stolen from you both. We’re no longer those men. We want to prove it to you. Would you like to meet my wife?”
I didn’t think this would go quite that way, and I wince as Mom slaps Jared across the face.
“I deserve that,” he says. “I still think you should meet her.”
“I don’t understand why Emil would bring me here,” Mom sighs.
Jared’s hand reaches behind his back for me, and I place my smaller hand in his.
“Everything is going to make a lot more sense in a second,” Jared says. “I can’t give you back the time that you lost, no one can, but we can give her back to you.”
“What…”
I squeeze between Jared and Theo to stand in front of my mom, already sobbing again.
“I’m so sorry, Mommy,” I say, gasping. “It was the only way to make sure the Kings Society wouldn’t try to finish the job.”
“Rachelle,” Mom whispers, her fingers touching my hair. She’s so still as tears begin to flood her eyes, drinking me in. “Is it really you?”
I’m shaking as I nod my head, my hand swiping at my tears.
“No tricks, Julia,” Emil says, entering the tent. “They helped me give Rachelle her life back. As far as the world is concerned, Rachelle Denton is alive and well.”
“Wife,” Julia whispers, glancing at Jared as he lifts our clasped hands to show her the ring. She still hasn’t hugged me yet. I think she’s in shock. I don’t blame her. “We have a lot to talk about, Rachelle.”
That’s the last thing she says before she yanks me away from Jared and finally hugs me. The two of us cling to each other as we cry. While I apologize, she shakes her head as she cries and tells me it’s alright.
“Shh,” she whispers, hiccuping as she cries. “You’re here, alive. No regrets, no apologies needed. Though, we need to discuss your taste in men.”
Jared snorts out a laugh at her words, and Theo smirks. Emil just chuckles.
“They grow on you,” he says.
Pulling away, Mom gazes at me again. “You’ve grown so much,” she says. “You look so different. I missed it all.”
