Page 121 of The Freedom in Captivity

He tilts my head up and pastes a blistering kiss there. “The fact thatyoufear something in this world has me ecstatic. You were safe. I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.”

“I know,” I tell him, believing his words. “It doesn’t lessen the fact that we drove way too quickly on vehicle that provides no protection.”

He chuckles and frames my face. Behind him, everyone has climbed out of the SUV and are watching us, but he doesn’t seem bothered by the observations. “You’re cute. But they’re waiting on you.”

“They” being Ariella, Della, Isabelle, and Aurora who stand by the SUV, talking quietly, watching us, as their male counterparts lean against the vehicle, waiting for Flynn and me to finish up.

Behind them, the community garden where I already hear the kids yelling behind the building, out of sight from us. My fear over the trip here is quickly replaced by doubt. Once, coming here was a ploy, which turned into genuine enjoyment. I’ve never been around little kids enough to understand the ways they see the world, but hanging out with them for the days I had provided a bit of happiness in my grim life.

But it was a part of my father’s plots. My old life. Somehow, it’s mingling with my new one again and I’m unsure how to feel about this.

“Why did I agree to this?” I whisper, hearing my own anxiety within my tone.

“Because, deep down, you want to.” His lips brush over my forehead in a calming motion I hardly knew him capable of. “I’ll be right here if it gets too much, but it won’t be. You’ll make it through,mon soleil.”

This morning, Aurora showed up at Flynn’s door, looking completely out of place as she shifted foot-to-foot and announced she was vising the garden today and offered me to accompany her. This is her way of trying to heal a broken past she had no part in ruining and it’d be insulting to turn her down. More so, I didn’twantto. Flynn’s correct in that, even if the knots in my stomach suggest otherwise.

Then Della and Ariella joined in “to check it out,” Della claimed. She has days left before her sister is married and shipped to New York since Erico Rossi accepted the deal, so I think Della’s trying to spend a lifetime with Ariella within this week. Della’s still not pleased to be losing her sister, but I guess Ariella wasn’t having her mind changed. Isabelle joined in too since everyone else was and she had the day off of work.

I nod, but it’s more to myself than him, and slide from the bike with his help. Once I’m standing, Aurora, followed by everyone else, walks forward and after a meaningful look, leads the way to the building to check in.

After they all enter, I glance behind me, spotting Rosen leaning against the hood of the car, talking to Nico and Rafael. Nico’s standing beside him, looking entirely out of place in his tailored suit, and Rafael’s somehow worse. Seated on the grass in a rumpled suit, he’s leaning back on his arms as he peers up at his brother and friend. Standing on Rosen’s right is Flynn, who’s watching me. His leather jacket and jeans give him a dangerous air, as does the gleaming bike to his left.

They all look dangerous. Made Men completely out of their element, standing in the middle of a field. It’s laughable.

“Rozelyn?” Aurora prompts.

Right.

I enter the building.

* * *

“Roz!”

“Oh my god, Roz, you’re back!”

“Why did you leave us?”

That final question almost breaks me.

Kids swarm me, so many familiar faces, as well as some new ones. They all but ignore Aurora, who still visits frequently, and slam into my legs in a giant swarm that has everyone laughing. They’re laughing, but I feel like I’m seconds from a breakdown.

Everything’s the same. The garden. The peaceful vibe. The memory that while here, I pretended to be normal. I pretended to have been making a genuine friend.

The worst part was always knowing itwasreal, but I had to pretend it wasn’t. Shut off the pleasant emotions before I lost my way.

When the kids notice Isabelle, Della, and Ariella, whom they’ve never met, their short attention spans quickly take them toward the three, who all take turns greeting and getting to know every child.

I wander toward a flower patch of Morning Glory I once tended to. My fingers stroke over the purple petals, soft and packed full of memories that bombard me. Instead of falling into them, I stare into the afternoon sun, using the bold rays to burn away the prickle of tears.

“Hey,” a gentle voice approaches. Of course, it’s her. Aurora touches my elbow. “You okay?”

“Truthfully,” I slide my gaze from the sun to her, and the punch of emotions returns, “I have no idea. Being here reminds me of all the shitty things I did.”

“Why do you think I invited you?” She gives me a partial smile. “We got to start somewhere, Rozelyn, and once, I really enjoyed spending time with you. I want us to be that again.”

“I want that too.” I mean that statement. “I’m really sorry for what I did.”

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