Page 68 of Rules Of Our Own

There’s a sharp knock against the wooden door, and I snap to face it. My heart pounds against my chest when it happens again. I freeze in place, every muscle on high alert.

“Mia Brooks. Open this door right now!” Piper shouts, and a wave of relief washes over me as my body relaxes. I stumble toward the door and swing it open to find Piper standing there with her hands balled into fists, her face red with anger. She pulls me into a breath-stealing embrace and whispers, “Are you okay? How could he do something like this? Why didn’t you tell us?” As she goes to pull away, a fire lights up her eyes, and she growls through clenched teeth, “I’m going to kill him.”

“Get in line,” says a muffled voice that sounds distinctly like Sidney.

Piper holds up her phone, and I bite my lips as Sidney glares at me through the glass. She looks like a concerned mom whose teenager came home after curfew. She takes a few visible breaths before asking, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Don’tI’m goodme,” she shouts. “Your ex got you fired, then attempted to break into your home.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. He banged on the door.” I do my best to brush it off.

“Were you afraid he’d break in?” She searches my gaze, seeing the answer there. “Just as bad. It’s okay to be upset about this, Mia. We’re here for you.”

It’s like a dam breaks in my chest. I’d been holding myself together with the thought that I was overreacting, nothing happened, but with those quick words from her, the weight of the fear I felt hit my shoulders.

My eyes burn, and I sniff. “I didn’t think it would get this bad. I should’ve told you then he could have—”

Sidney’s voice is low and serious. “Listen to me, Mia, and listen well. None of this is your fault. Do I wish you’d told me he was escalating? Yes, but don’t think for a second you’re to blame for this. Now, tell us what happened.”

“Okay, but I’m going to need a drink for this.” I walk into the kitchen, open the fridge, and have to do a double take. River’s filled it with an impressive array of fresh produce, lunch meats, and snacks. There are tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, squash interspersed among kale leaves, lunchmeat piled high between bright orange baby carrots, and my favorite cheese slices tucked neatly in the corner. A warm hum fills my chest, thinking about him going out to get all this. I push a jug of milk to the side and smile when my fingers land on the cool metal cans.

I take the seat beside Piper and pass her a can of hard apple cider. She’s propped her phone on the coffee table so we can both see Sidney, who is looking at me with one raised brow. I explain everything that’s happened, their eyes growing wider with each revelation from Jason being at my apartment when I got home from Napa, him waiting at the hospital, getting me fired, and finally showing up at my place.

“Okay, so we’re agreed he has to die, right?” Sidney says, completely serious.

I choke on my drink. “You’re in politics. You can’t talk like that.”

“It’s only a problem if we get caught, and I’ve watched enough true crime to get this done,” Piper adds helpfully.

Can’t deny I’ve thought about it. I’d love to have the control over him he’s been using against me, but the reality is, the only thing I can do is stay away from him.

“Yeah…well…I’d settle for getting him nailed for stealing painkillers.” I take a long drink.

“Do you really think he did it? He has a lot of money,” Piper asks.

I put my cider down and rub my temples. “There’s a lot of things I thought I knew about him that don’t make any sense anymore. And yes, I think he used me as a fall guy to cover up whatever he was up to.”

“So we just need to prove it,” Sidney says, face filling the phone screen.

I rub one hand over my face. “Easier said than done.”

“We just need someone on the inside,” Sidney adds coaxingly.

The corner of my lip tilts up as an image of Kristie’s fierce smile comes to mind. “I’ve got someone. She’s another doctor on the unit, and I trust her.”

Sidney smirks. “Good because once we get a lead, I know a guy who can look into stuff like this.”

Piper and I both raise a brow at her, and I say, “What do you mean ‘know a guy.’ You sound like you’re in the mafia.”

“How do you think we dig up dirt on our opponents? Everyone has a guy in politics.”

A laugh escapes me, tumbling from my chest. It feels good to talk to them about it. And I know I should’ve told them right away. It just sucks so freaking bad.

I wipe away a traitorous tear and try to hide my face. “He ruined everything.”

Sidney’s eyes grow glossy. “We’ll figure it out. Jax and I are flying in tomorrow.”

---