I wave as I leave, beyond ready to step out into the fresh air of the academy’s gardens.
Moving faster as I get closer to the big glass doors that will lead me out there, I force the thoughts of my mother out of my head.
I know I can’t get too caught up in any of that if I want to have a real life.
There’s only one lingering thought left as I reach those doors.
It sounded like Detective Waterman didn’t believe Colleen.
I grasp the handle and gaze at my reflection in the glass, the new version of me with the shinier hair and curvier shape. I look happy, vibrant, and I feel much better than I have in a long time, maybe ever.
Detective Waterman is wrong to doubt Colleen.
The woman who raised me wouldn’t lie about anything so important.
If it wasn’t for Colleen’s actions, I wouldn’t be here.
I might even be on death’s door.
She’s the one who pushed me into the hallway on that fateful day, three weeks ago.
She knew what I didn’t, and she wanted to help me get away from that place.
Colleen pushed me toward a better life.
I hope someday I get the chance to thank her for that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shayne
Thank God it’s Friday.Those are the first words that pop into my head when I wake up, and they repeat themselves over and over again as the day stretches on.
I spend the morning going over my investment portfolio, drinking coffee until I’ve maxed out my caffeine intake and then some. While Falcon paces around like a caged tiger, watching the clock as if he literally can’t think of a single other thing to do.
Jay and Harper sleep in a bit, only getting up and ready when it’s almost time for them to head out to the Symphony Hall in Silver City.
It’s obvious Falcon doesn’t want them to leave.
His mood goes from silently impatient to vaguely irritable the moment they’re gone.
We both know Jay is as capable of protecting Harper as we are.
There’s no reason to hamper our Omega’s freedom.
He’s safe with our Beta.
Unfortunately, this whole week has been a strange kind of torture for Falcon, and he’s tense enough now that a minor inconvenience could completely shatter the façade he’s been holding together for what feels like months.
In reality it’s been weeks.
Three, four, tops.
It seems crazy to believe that he could be back to normal after tonight but finally getting to see that the girl he rescued is fine is bound to ease the tension. Whether or not that’s the real issue remains to be seen.
I’m not sure it’s quite that simple.
He’s been simmering in rage this whole time.
