Page 117 of Save Her from Me

Chapter 33

Ariel

We left the ops centre, letting Lochinvar and his people take ownership again for their training.

I muttered apologies to the people I knew for chewing up their day with babysitting me, then hid out once more in the rec room, Daisy taking a bathroom break and Raphael making a phone call which required him to walk away, frowning.

At a different table, Cameron, Lochinvar’s second-in-command, read a book with Zander, his five-year-old son, all while keeping a quiet eye on me.

I sipped coffee and tried to reconcile my mother’s confession.

Was she so broken by the actions of men that ownership by a terrible person who loved her was more important than fighting for the children she’d made?

Jackson’s mother had blamed and hated her daughter. Mine had abandoned hers.

I’d never understand either of them.

Even as messed up as I probably was, I knew love.

My heart throbbed, missing the man I’d got used to when I’d meant to do anything but.

The chair across the table from me screeched as someone pulled it out.

I lifted my gaze to the head of the mountain rescue team, joining me at my table. “How are ye doing?” Lochinvar asked.

I shrugged. “I’ve been better.”

“It’ll be over soon, I promise. These kinds of things have an expiration date.” Lochinvar flashed me a rare smile. “Besides, Ava misses ye as her teacher and demanded I help get ye back to work.”

I found my own smile. There were so many families around here. Where Cameron had Zander, who was part of a troop of half-wild mountain boys, and a younger daughter who was a little angel, Lochinvar was the father of three girls. His middle child, five-year-old Ava, was one of my favourite students. A big personality, she was happy to boss others around as much as cheer them on. If she fell on the slopes, she picked herself back up and carried on.

I could take a lesson from that.

Sulking over my parents wouldn’t get me anywhere.

“I appreciate the advice. You lived through something like this,” I said to Lochinvar.

“Worse. He took Cait. I almost lost my mind. If I could’ve raised an army to protect her, like your lad did for ye, I would’ve.”

I glanced around, suddenly realising what Jackson had done.

I’d been to the hangar any number of times, but today was far busier than usual.

People milled everywhere, wandering in and out of the rec room. Through the open door, they chatted in groups, gazes sliding my way on the regular. Gabe and Effie, Casey and Brodie with one of their kids, Isobel and Lennox.

Jackson had asked them to be here. Not just a few faces, but everyone he could find.

God.

With a few more words of encouragement, Lochinvar left me, and I finished the dregs of my coffee, never alone from my army’s company and gaining strength from their care.

Leaving the rec room, I sought Raphael in the busy space, mechanics coming and going, engines roaring, and the bright sounds of people everywhere.

I needed to find out what happened to my brother’s training, but on my way to joining him, out on the hangar floor, my phone rang.

Bridgette calling.

Jeez.

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