Page 36 of Finding Solace
Dropping her gaze to her lap, she wrings her hands together. "We stayed here last night. No money, nowhere to go, and just before court this morning Robert said he would be right back. When he returned, he had Ava with him. I know I'm a lot of things, Mr. Carter. I know I haven't been a good mother, but he wanted to use her as a bargaining chip, and I couldn’t go along with it. So, he left. Took the car and left us here." She looks at Ava who I still have in my arms. I can tell she wants to say more when we hear the blaring sirens outside the house and the sound of multiple car doors slamming. I recognize a voice belonging to Officer Jenkins making his presence known as he enters the home. I continue to keep my eyes fixed on Mrs. Vaughn and listen as the officers' weighty feet approach the bedroom from behindme.
"Carter," Jenkins states in an even tone. Most likely so he doesn’t alarm and upset Ava. "I'll take it from here. Her mother is waitingoutside."
Before I leave the room, I speak one more time to Mila's mother. Lowering my voice, I tell her, "You will never lay eyes on these twoagain."
As I'm emerging from the hall and entering the living room, Mila breaks past the other officer standing near the front door. When she sees I have Ava safe and unharmed with her little arms draped around my neck, she loses it all over again. Desperately trying to hold her emotions in, she reaches for her daughter and I place her into her momma's arms. I watch on as they embrace one another. Pulling both into me, I holdthem.
"Babe," I lift Mila's chin, and she looks up meeting my eyes, "They'll be leading your mother out soon. You wanna take off?" I ask her while running my fingers through her hair, pushing the few fallen pieces from around her face, as I peer down ather.
"Take us home," she tellsme.
The three of us walk outside to find an awaiting Bella standing next to her car. Tears start to stream down her face the moment she lays eyes on Mila holding Ava. Quickly wiping them away she smiles as we approach. "Bella, take them home. Give me a minute, and I'll be right behind you on my bike." I inform her. I wait until all three of them are safely inside the car and buckled in before retrieving my bike a couple of housesdown.
When I pass Agent Holden, the federal agent in charge of the whole investigation of the Vaughns, he stops me with and extends his hand. "Thank you," he acknowledges and shakes my hand. I give him a firm nod in response before we both go our separateways.
My phone ringing in my pocket causes my pace to slow as I dig it out. Looking at the lit-up screen, I see Gabriel's number and swipe to answer. "What you got,brother?"
"We found the father thirty minutes outside of town. His dumb ass ran out of gas and had nowhere to go. What do you want done with him, brother?" Gabriel'sutters.
He kidnapped a little girl. My family. Knowing we may get some fallback from the decision I'm about to make, I'm sure my other brother would agree he has a little justice coming to him. "Rough him up a little. Nothing major. He needs to be turned over to the authorities alive and in one piece," I tell Gabriel, but silence hangs in the air instead of a response. I smirk knowing I soiled his plans to have a little fun. The man is as loyal to his family as they come. Gabriel takes shit like this personal. "Sorry, brother. Not thistime."
"You got it." His gruff voice says before hanging up. The motherfucker picked the wrong town and the wrong family to mess with. He is damn lucky only to be receiving a busted lip or some bruised ribs. In any other circumstance, he would have a date withdeath.
Getting on my bike, I roll up behind Bella's car to bring up the rear, and we headhome.
CHAPTER TWENTY
MILA
It's been twenty-four hours since Reid placed Ava back in my arms, and in those twenty-four hours I'm grateful Ava was none the wiser as to what happened. I know she must have been scared when my father took her from preschool, but she doesn't seem to have any lasting effects. I'm finding it difficult to let her go. She even slept in the bed between Reid and me last night snuggled right into my side. I'm thankful Reid went with it. He knew I neededit.
My hope is when she gets older this incident will be a forgotten memory. As for me I will always remember and move on. However, there is one last thing I need do before I can completely put my past behind me. I need to see my mother. I want… no, I need answers. It's time to close this chapter in my life and never look back. Once I do, I feel I'll be able to have the closure I need and move on with the rest of mylife.
Reid mentioned last night both of my parents are to be taken back to New York tomorrow. So, it's now or never. Turning my attention away from my daughter who is quietly playing with her toys on the living room floor, I look to Reid who is sitting on the sofa next to me, his attention also on Ava. "I want to see my mother. You think you can make that happen forme?"
Without questioning me he answers, "Yeah, babe. I'll make acall."
I love how he gets me without my explaining. Somehow, he knows I need this and I trust him to make it happened. While setting up visitation with my mother, Reid contacted my supervisor at the nursing home requesting personal time off due to a family emergency. When he came to me and announced what he had done, I was about to open my mouth and say something when he told me, "I thought you'd like to take the week off and spend it with Ava." Once he explained his reasoning, there was no way I could argue. A week home with my little girl soundedwonderful.
"Want me to get Bella or Alba to come watch Ava while we go see your mom?" Reidasks.
"No, they've already done so much for me. I'm not going to ask any more of them. If it's alright with you, I'd rather go by myself and Ava can stay here withyou."
"Hell no, Mila, you're not going by yourself. I don't want you confronting that bitchalone."
"You've got to stop acting like I'm made of glass. I'm going. I promise I can handle seeing her. It's time for me to put the past in the past so I can move on with my life. Confronting my mother is something I need to do alone. I need to show my mother she didn't win. I want her and my father to see they didn't break me," I explain with my voice steady andcalm.
Letting out a sigh of defeat, Reid strides up to me standing toe to toe and cups my face, "You are the strongest, bravest woman Iknow."
Placing my hands on his forearms I exhale, "Thank you, for everything," I say right before his lips meet mine and I melt intohim.
* * *
"Alright,Kitten, Agent Holden is expecting you down at the station. I'll stay here withAva."
I give Reid one last kiss before walking over to Ava and kiss the top of her head, "Be good for Reid while I'm gone. Okay,sweetheart?"
"I will,Momma."
