Page 79 of Deception & Daylight
I pull out my phone and add her to the smaller group with just me, Paige, and Ivy to start. The local book club might be too overwhelming. “Well, now you do.”
“Thanks so much. It really was great talking to you. I’ll keep you updated on the article.” She slings her purse over her shoulder, hesitating briefly at the side of the table. “Not to bethatperson, but would you mind signing my book?” She rummages through her tote, cursing when she comes up empty. “Shit. I left it in the rental.”
“No problem. I’ll walk you out.”
After leaving a stack of cash on the table, Kam heads towards the exit. On the way out of the diner, I text everyone, letting them know I’ll be right back, then follow Kam around the corner. “I parked in the lot down the street. I’m not great at parallel parking,” she says, wincing slightly.
“Well, you’re a step ahead of me. I’m shit at driving in general. Toronto spoiled me with their public transportation.”
“I feel the same way about New York,” she says with a far off smile. We come to a stop next to a black BMW, the luxury vehicle sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the pickup trucks and minivans. “This is me.”
I sign her book with a personalized note, thank her for the interview, and wish her safe travels back to New York, promising to visit in the near future. With a final wave, she pulls out of the parking lot, the sound of her car fading as she disappears around the corner.
On my way back to the diner, I decide to take a shortcut through a familiar alleyway, losing myself in memories of the flower festival when someone grabs me from behind. His arm bands around my shoulders and neck, but I bring my hands up and wedge them between us, giving me enough breathing room to keep my wits about me.
“Maggie the heiress. Guess daddy didn’t really give a fuck what his whore of a daughter was doing, huh?” Matty’s breath fans over my cheek as he buries his face in my hair and inhales. “You smell delicious. Bet you taste delicious too.”
“Fuck you,” I spit. My pulse is erratic and my senses are on high alert as I run through everything Miles taught me in our self-defense lessons.
“That can be arranged. How about we make a deal? You get on your knees all pretty for me, just like you do for my brother, and I’ll make sure those photos never see the light of day.”
Using every ounce of strength I can muster, I bite down on his arm. He releases me on instinct and I use the momentum to duck out of his hold and slam my knee into his groin. He releases a pained grunt, doubling over on the cobblestone. My chest heaves as I glare down at the man writhing in agony.
“Look at you, on your knees, all pretty for me,” I sneer seconds before my foot meets his jaw with a loud crack.
Someone must’ve heard the commotion because several people come rushing around the corner in tandem. Paige has her phone to her ear, speaking to the 9-1-1 operator as Cade advances and pushes me behind him. Matty tries to make a break for it, but he’s boxed in by a furious Miles at the other end of the alley. We lock eyes, and an overwhelming wave of relief washes over me. Cade lunges forward, grabbing Matty’s forearms and pinning him against the brick wall.
With his brother secure, Miles rushes towards me and cradles my face in his palms, his eyes frantic as he scans me for any sign of injury. Finding none, he pulls me into his embrace. “That’s my fucking girl.” All of my weight collapses into him as I fight to stay upright. Sensing my distress, Miles scoops me into his arms, his steady heartbeat soothing me as he carries me into the diner. The world blurs into a chaotic mess of sights and sounds as the adrenaline crash hits with the force of a mack truck, leaving me breathless and disoriented.
A while later, an officer takes our statements and they haul Matty away in handcuffs. They’ve been made aware of the blackmail and subsequent threats, and I will be formally pressing charges for all of it, including the assault. I’m leaving the diner relatively unscathed, while Matty is looking a little worse for the wear. He deserves everything he got and more.
When we arrive back at Miles’ house, Lucy is there waiting for us with red-rimmed eyes and an apologetic expression. Miles sets me down in the entry, and I rush over to her. She grasps one of my hands in hers and cups my cheek with the other. “I’m so sorry, sweet girl. I never imagined he’d do something like that.”
“It’s ok.It’s not your fault. You don’t need to apologize for him.”
She shakes her head. “I do. He’s my son. I thought I raised him to be a good man.”
“You did, Lucy, but he’s grown now, and he made his own choices. Please don’t take this on yourself.”
“You are too good for this world, Maggie.” Glancing over my shoulder, she adds, “I hope you know how lucky you are, Miles.”
“I do,” he says, wrapping his arms around me from behind and resting his chin on my head. “I really, really do.”
Chapter 33
Mags
? Angels like you - Miley Cyrus
On Friday, Kamilla’s article drops, and by the weekend, it’s a viral sensation across all social media platforms; hashtags are trending, and everyone’s talking about it. She’s getting every bit of recognition she deserves and several morning shows have reached out to schedule interviews with us. After a brief chat, we agree to wait until some of the bluster dies down. She thinks it would be beneficial to wait until my second book releases, and she even encourages me to attend the Toronto book signing Victoria roped me into. Reluctantly, I agree, but by Monday, the weight of the world crashes down on me like a tidal wave.
Miss Watson, this is Detective Boucher with the Toronto Police. We’d like to discuss an urgent development in your case if you could give us a call back at your earliest convenience. Thank you.
I listen to the voicemail for the third time, the words still not completely registering. “Hey. You okay?” Paige’s voice brings me back to the present as she slides into the booth beside me. The voicemail came in as soon as I arrived at the diner for brunch, and I’ve been paralyzed by the implications ever since. “Rosie said you weren’t responding when she called out to you. What’s going on?”
“TPS called. There’s a development in the case.” My voice is devoid of all emotion as I hand over my phone with the voicemail on the screen. Paige holds it to her ear, her concerned expression changing to a mix of sadness and determination. “I’ll stay with you if you want to call them back. We can even go somewhere more private.”
My hands tremble as I try to get a handle on my emotions. “I… shit… I don’t think I can do this.”
