Every step as I stormed down the hall of the ICU was fueled by a simmering rage. Lelani’s cries grew fainter as I reached the exit of the unit. As I stalked through the hospital, I could feel the concerned looks from the staff, patients, and visitors. My towering figure—a large, pissed-off Black man—drew attention, and I could see their judgment and worry. I was a storm about to break, and they could see it.
I reached the elevator and pressed the button, pacing impatiently as I waited for the doors to slide open. Just as I wasabout to lose it, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Timmy’s name flashing on the screen.
“What, Timmy?” I answered.
“Whoa. You good, boss?”
“Just tell me what you need.”
“Check your email,” he replied cautiously. “I got the evidence from Mia’s investigation and a copy of Jeremy’s recording.”
I grumbled a simple, “All right,” before ending the call.
AVIANA SCOTT
Emotionally and physically, I was all over the place. When I woke up that morning, I called off work and planned to for the next few days. I had used Jeremy’s death as an excuse to take some vacation time, when in actuality I needed time to process that my husband had killed him. It all felt unreal, like I was in a hellish nightmare that I would soon wake up from. I couldn’t do anything. I could taste the funk on my breath. I hadn’t even had the energy to brush my teeth that morning. My hair was a tangled mess. I had spent all morning just lying in bed, drowning in my own confusion and disappointment.
Then Mythic returned to the suite some time ago and changed my world forever. He told me that Timmy had used his connections at the police department to get the evidence in Mia’s investigation that was linked to Damar. My heart sunk when he mentioned that Timmy also got a copy of the recording of Jeremy’s death. Hearing Jeremy struggle to breathe, followed by the gunshots that stole his life, made my stomach turn. It was unbearable. And knowing it was his own father who had done it was even more crippling.
But what crushed me the most were the text messages I had read between Damar and Mia. Each word cut deeper than the last,revealing that they had been having an affair and that Damar had been the one to teach her how to steal from Dream Realty. My best friend and my husband had betrayed me in the worst way possible. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of betrayal and heartache.
And she was pregnant by him. While trying to purposely get me pregnant, he knew that my best friend was carrying his child.
Lying in bed, wrapped up in Mythic’s arms, I felt like a complete mess. My face was buried in Mythic’s chest as I let the tears flow freely. Every breath I took pulled his scent into my nostrils. It was a comforting reminder that he was here, that I wasn’t alone. I clung to him like a lifeline, my body shaking as I cried. I didn’t want to face the reality outside these walls. I just wanted to hold on to him and forget about the pain, if only for a little while.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered into Mythic’s shirt.
“Why?”
“I feel bad that you’re lying here comforting me while I cry over another man.”
“You feel bad because you know the feelings that I have for you. But despite how much I love you, I’m still and will always be your best friend, so you don’t have to feel bad about shit.”
The warmth of Mythic’s love and attention wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. He was so loving and attentive. His gentle touch and comforting words were a soothing balm, making me feel cared for in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. It hit me how much he truly cared for me, despite the chaos surrounding us. I could feel his strong heartbeat beneath my head, reminding me that I wasn’t alone. Even in my darkest hour, he was there, ready to hold me together when everything felt like it was falling apart.
He was giving me space to grieve for another man while holding me. He was giving me space to let my guard down.
“I can’t believe I was so blind. How could I not see Damar and Mia deceiving me right in front of my face?”
Mythic shifted slightly. I soon felt his fingers running through my hair. I closed my eyes, enjoying the touch of his fingertips on my scalp.
“You shouldn’t feel stupid, Avi. Some people are just master manipulators.”
I sniffled, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. “But how did I not notice? I thought I knew them both. I thought I could trust them.”
“You trusted them because you’re a good person. That’s not a weakness,” he said, rubbing my back gently. The way he touched me made me feel safe, like I could let my guard down.
“Thank you for being here for me,” I said weakly. “I don’t know what I would do without you. I would be so alone if it weren’t for you because I can’t even bring myself to explain any of this to my parents. I have no strength for that. They’ll want to know what’s going on, and I can’t even wrap my head around it myself.”
He sighed softly. “I get it. You don’t have to explain any of this to your parents right now.”
I leaned into him, finding comfort in his presence. “I just feel so lost,” I admitted, letting my emotions spill out. “It’s like everything I thought I knew has been turned upside down.”
“You can feel lost, but know that you’re never alone because I’m right here,” Mythic reassured me as his fingers still raked gently through my hair. “I got you, baby, I promise.”
Standing on Stephanie’s porch felt surreal. Even breathing took effort. The weight of this death and betrayal was on my chest likebricks. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly, trying not to crumble where I stood. If I felt this suffocated, I couldn’t imagine what Stephanie was going through. Jeremy was only my stepson, and still, the grief felt unbearable.
I reached out and pressed the doorbell. As I waited, I wondered if Stephanie would even answer. I knew the detectives had already delivered the same horrific news to her.
