Page 86 of Forgotten Deeds

“Darius!” Iris says excitedly, running to me. She stops abruptly when she notices her mama unconscious in my arms.

“Rainbow goddess! Shhh,” I warn her. “Your mama’s asleep. I’m going to put her in the car so she can rest on the trip. Can you grab the things you want to take? It’s time to go home. I’ve missed you, and Lucky has too.” It’s a dirty move bringing up the cat, but there’s nothing I won’t say or do to get my family back.

Iris looks unsure about what’s happening—kid’s too damn smart for her own good—but she nods, taking off to her room.

I carry Lily to the car, buckling up her limp body. Her head droops at an awkward angle, and I try to right it, but it immediately slumps back over. Not much I can do about it, so I lock the door behind me, hustling inside to grab the emergency bag. I stick my head inside Iris’ room. Her tiny body trembling, she’s clutching her rainbow mermaid. “You ready?” I ask her gently.

She nods, and I walk over to her and pick her up—hugging her tight as we walk out of the villa. Getting her bucked in, I toss the bag in the trunk before running around and sliding behind the driver’s seat. The urge to high tail it out of here is strong, but I obey the speed limit—no need to add the complication of explaining to the local yokel cops why my wife’s incapacitated.

“I heard you and Mama fighting,” Iris tells me from the backseat, hugging her mermaid doll that has a tracker sewn inside the tail. Honestly, I put it in there in the event she ever lost her favorite stuffie—never imagining I’d have to use that tracker to find my lost wife and stepdaughter.

“Just a little misunderstanding. We’ll work it out.” That’s more an assurance to myself than to her.

“It’s my fault Dad died,” she whispers so quietly, I’m not sure if I heard her correctly. “I didn’t want to see him anymore.”

“Iris, it is not your fault he died,” I tell her firmly, wanting to nip that idea in the bud. “He was a cop, and that’s a dangerous job. Listen,” I tell her, locking eyes with her in the rearview, “I don’t want you to worry. Everything’s going to be alright.”

“Do you have a dangerous job?” she asks.

“At the gym? Nah, not unless I drop a weight on my toe. Ooof! Now that would hurt,” I tell her, and she smiles. “It’s late. Why don’t you close your eyes for me, and go to sleep?”

“But I’m not tired,” she protests, only to yawn loudly. “Why is Mama so tired?”

Unable to answer her, I flip on classical music, and it’s only a matter of minutes before she’s out for the count.

Driving to the airport, I pull up to the tarmac—the Parisi family jet waiting there for us. Carrying Iris first, I run back down the steps and scoop Lily into my arms. She doesn’t stir. I start to panic, but feeling her pulse—still beating strong—I sigh a breath of relief.

I told Iris her mama and I would work it out, but I don’t have a fucking clue how to make that happen.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Lily

Feeling like I’ve got the mother of all hangovers, I bring my hands to my forehead, only to realize I’m now wearing my wedding ring on my left ring finger, my mood ring on my right. Dread fills me as I slowly open my eyes to find I’m in the private jet, with Darius seated in a chair across from the bed. “Hey, wifey,” he says softly.

“Don’t call me that.” My voice sounds like I’ve got a mouthful of gravel.

He walks over to me, taking a seat on the edge of the bed as he offers me a bottle of water. I can’t help but notice his new ink—a wedding band tattoo on his ring finger.

“What would you have me call you?” he asks gently.

“Stranger.” And this time when I say it, I mean it with every fiber of my being. “Is this safe to drink, or is it drugged too?”

“I’m sorry, aggeloudhi mou,” he says, guilt written all over his face. “I didn’t want to, but I knew you would have fought me, and that would only have traumatized Iris.”

“Oh my fucking God, you don’t get to act like you care about my daughter after what you’ve done!”

“That is such bullshit.” He spits. “You know I love Iris like she’s my own flesh and blood.”

I snort an acrid laugh. “Thankfully, Darius, your tainted blood doesn’t run through her veins. Your father was right: you’re nothing but a dumb brute.”

He flinches like I’ve slapped him across the face. Nodding, he silently places the water on the table as he walks out, closing the door behind him.

It’s what I wanted to happen, and yet I still break down in tears.

* * *

We arrive home late, with Iris asleep, and me ignoring Darius. He carries my daughter inside and puts her to bed, and I give Lucky a scratch before silently walking to the bedroom. Locking him out, I get ready for bed, going through the motions like a zombie.

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