Page 29 of Open Secrets
Her brows lifted. “You’re transferring?”
“Trying to. People think being the general’s son gets you favours. Truth is, it screws you. Everything takes longer. Been away from home too long.”
Her smile softened. “And how are the kids?”
“They’re good.” I paused, throat tightening. “Rain’s sick, actually. That’s why Maria isn’t here.”
Bethany tilted her head, pity flickering in her eyes. “I still don’t get why she and the kids don’t move here. At least while you’re stateside.”
I pressed my lips together, forced a shrug. “It was our decision. We’ve got family in Austin; Maria’s practice is there. Besides, it’s not like I’m gonna be here long.”
I tipped my chin at her glass, trying to pivot, lighten. “So… what brings you here? Church thing, you said?”
Her eyes lit up like I’d fed her a line she was waiting for. She tapped her straw against the rim of the glass, steady as a drumbeat, then leaned closer, voice dropping.
“It’s not exactly church business. But it is God’s business.”
I smirked, lifted my mug, played along. “Yeah? What business does God have in North Carolina?”
Her lips curved, slow. “They’re opening a Planned Parenthood in Charlotte. Like this world needs another place that kills innocent babies.”
The words slammed into me. Just like that, I was back there.
The noise. The crowd pressing in. Signs shoved into our faces. Maria’s hand trembling in mine, her breath catching when some asshole spat the wordmurderer.The feel of my fist splitting skin when I finally couldn’t take it anymore.
My jaw locked. “Don’t think their only job is killing babies,” I said evenly, the same tone I used with soldiers about to crack under pressure.
“But it is primarily,” she cut in, eyes shining with conviction. “We’re gonna stage a protest. Show these people they can’t just do this.”
I shook my head, staring into the black swirl of my coffee like it could drown her voice. “Can’t help but think maybe you should get a job instead of attacking places that offer help to women in need.”
Her head tilted, studying me, too sharp. For a second, her expression hardened—like she was seeing something she shouldn’t—and then it was gone, tucked under her sweet church-girl smile.
“Did you know these places hurt women?” she pressed. “These procedures ruin lives. Women can’t even have children after they—” she lowered her voice like she was sharing a secret—“you know.”
Heat crept up my neck. My knuckles tightened around the mug. Don’t bite. Don’t give her anything.
But my mouth betrayed me. “Doubt it. We have four.”
The words hung between us like a grenade pin had just been pulled.
Bethany froze, straw still pressed to her lip. “What?”
Silence. Sharp, and heavy. My heart slammed against my ribs, every nerve on fire. I opened my mouth, scrambling to backpedal. “Nothing. Forget it.”
Her eyes narrowed, razor sharp now, all softness gone. “Did Maria?”
My chair screeched against the tile as I stood too fast. “No.” The word came out raw, scraped. My pulse was pounding. “Listen—I gotta go. I’ll, uh… see you around.”
I threw bills onto the counter, not even counting, and shoved out the door. The cold air slammed me in the face, but it didn’t cut through the heat under my skin.
Fuck.
What had I just done?
Chapter Nine
Maria — Five Years Ago – Austin, Texas. 2020
