Page 91 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

“You should have taken me with you,” I rasped in a whisper.

The silence that followed, our eyes locked, was more accusing than any words I could have thrown her way. I would have never left someone I loved behind like that. The only explanation was that she didn’t love me. At least not enough to care and take me with her.

“Can you tell us how the toxicology report contained the substance in Layla’s bloodstream?” Maxim’s voice contained cold rage, but he kept himself in check. His jaw clenched so hard, I thought he’d break it.

My mother shifted her gaze to him, her eyes studying him then Daniel and finally came back to Maxim. I had no doubt that in her sick mind, she was figuring out their worth.

“She didn’t have any drugs in her system. Her grandfather bribed the doctor to show that she did.” My mother’s admission shouldn’t shock me, but it did. “If I had to guess, she was going to be his scapegoat if the police were onto him. It was another thing for him to hold over her, but I turned that against him.”

“No, Mother,” I hissed, the bitter taste of betrayal on my mouth. “You turned that against me.”

“How was I-” She started to defend herself but Daniel cut her off.

“Enough!” Daniel said darkly. “You will state that in court,” Daniel continued, his tone hard and chilled. I glanced at him and the dark expression on his face sent fear through me. Thankfully, it wasn’t directed at me.

“Or what?” My head snapped to my mother. Didn’t she realize he’s scary? Yes, rich and good looking, but there was something dangerous about Daniel Carrington underneath it all

“Or your stay back in good old England won’t be very pleasant,” he threatened, his voice frosty. “In fact, it might be gruesome, and you might find yourself in the prison housing with the worst type of criminals, instead of cheats that try to get rich off their daughters.”

My mother just shrugged her shoulders unperturbed. Was she always like this?

“Fine. Yes, I’ll state that in court. But I also want to state that her grandfather tried to have us both killed. It’s about time that old bastard went down.”

“Oh, he will go down,” Maxim gritted his teeth, a murderous look on his face. “For all of it.”

Maxim and Daniel had furious expressions that threatened like dark clouds, but in the strangest way, it made me feel safe and protected. They looked out for me and wanted to ensure the people that hurt me and abused me paid for what they had done.

As for me, the best part was realizing thatI didn’t kill Brian.A silent relief and years of guilt lifting washed over me. I felt lighter. He was a victim of my grandfather, not me. I didn’t kill him.

Daniel shut the door of the van and signaled the police officer to get going.

Taking a few steps away from it, I sat down on the school wall, surrounding their fields. The smell of the rain was in the air, signaling the weather change. The sun still shone, but clouds were moving in. It still didn’t deter the relief and hope that boomed in my chest. Actually, it was welcome to pour down and wash it all away. All those years of guilt eating at me slowly, like poison. It was over.

The police van drove off and with it, twelve years of guilt and agony. The pain was still here, and I had a feeling it would take a bit longer for it to go away. But itwouldgo away. I could almost guarantee it.

I sensed Maxim’s eyes on me. I turned my head to find only him standing in front of me. Daniel must have left without me noticing.

“Are you good?” There was a worried expression in his eyes, concern and… love. The unselfish and unconditional kind that would ensure I was always okay.

I took a deep breath and exhaled, offering him a smile.

“Yes, better than in a long time.” Our eyes met, and I realized it is the love in them that would eventually push all the pain away. “Thank you, Maxim.”

Taking both my hands into his, he kissed both my palms, his lips searing my skin in the best way possible. “I love you. And don’t thank me. It is what we do. What we’ll always do. Be there for each other.”

Epilogue

One year later

“The court is in session.” A loud bang had me startled.

It had been a year since my grandparents and my mother had been arrested. My mother’s sentencing was last week. Her sentence wasn’t as harsh as everyone expected. She has to serve five years in prison for blackmail, fraud and crime scene abandonment. I knew people thought the sentence was too lenient but, despite that she abandoned me, I didn’t want her to die in prison. Daniel and Maxim pulled some strings to alleviate her prison time.

Maxim and I still lived together. I was the happiest woman alive and each day with him has been better than the last. Both foundations flourished and the reward was priceless. So many military families and troubled teens have gotten the help they needed and deserved. The foundations were even featured inTimemagazine and recognized by several, distinguished royal family members.

I had to admit it. Life was good. This hearing would be the last part of the ugly past and then it would all be behind me.

I didn’t listen to the defense nor the prosecutors’ speeches or to the evidence presented. I guess this was more so my grandfather could see he had not beaten me. All the years of his posturing and calling me a variety of names had just come back to him.

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