Page 38 of Cyber
What the hell was going on?
Pulling to a stop in front of me, Monster killed the engine and the sudden quietness was enough to set my nerves on edge. Why were they all there? Was it possible that they had found out why I was actually there? And if they had, what would happen to Violet when they killed me?
I didn't really care what happened to me, but her? I needed to make sure she was ok and looked after. Would Cyber step up and take care of her? My eyes locked on his turned head. And my heart sank.
I couldn't count on him. He wouldn't even look at me.
I was on my own…again.
Straightening my shoulders, I took a step down and then another, plastering my face with a fake smile. “Hey Monster.”
He didn’t answer me, he just stood there, his arms crossed over his chest and his head down.
“Iris.” Fang climbed down, nodding his head in greeting.
My smile died at the look on his face.
“It's good to see you again.”
Gulping back the panic that was bubbling up my throat, I nodded. Over the years I had wished for death so many times. I had even thought about trying, but the thought of Violet being left on her own always stopped me. She had been my reason to live for. She still was. But I had more now, I had Cyber and Maggie, and friends like Monster.
I didn’t want to die. I wanted to live.
“Cyber?” I watched as he reached back into the truck. He still hadn’t greeted me. He hadn't even looked at me. “What’s going on?”
An eerie calm settled over me. This was it; they had found out. There was nothing more I could do but go out with dignity. I wouldn't be the kind of person who pissed themself and begged for mercy when there would be none.
“We have something for you.” Finally, Cyber glanced over his shoulder at me.
I closed my eyes. Was he going to be the one that did it? Or would it be one of the others? I classed Monster as a friend, so maybe it would be Fang. He had never come across as my biggest fan. Maybe some part of him had known from the beginning. He sure as hell hadn't really trusted me. It didn’t really matter which one of them it was.
I steeled myself. I was as ok with dying as anyone could be, but I was afraid of the pain. I didn't want my last moments on earth to be in agony.
“I won’t beg. Just make it quick.” The words left my mouth in a rush, my whisper loud in the sudden quiet. Not even the birds were singing. Everything had fallen silent. It was peaceful, I had to admit that.
“Mommy?”
My eyes snapped open at the sound of the sweet girly voice I knew so well. Cyber placed Violet down on the grass gently.
“Violet?”
“Mommy.” With a giggle I never thought I would hear again, my daughter started running towards me, her chubby legs working hard. Taking three stumbling steps down the porch, I fell to my knees. My arms opened just in time to catch her tiny frame, clutching her to me like she was a raft and I was lost at sea.
She was there. I didn’t know how he had done it, but somehow Cyber had kept his promise. He had brought my daughter back to me.
“Mommy, I've missed you.”
Crushing her head against my chest, I let my tears fall into my daughter’s dark hair. “I've missed you too, princess. I've missed you so much.”
We snuggled into each other, crying and laughing in equal measures. Lifting my head, I looked up at the three men in front of me. Rough, hard men. Men who should have been my enemy but instead had turned out to be my saviours.
“Thank you,” I mouthed silently. I said it to all of them, but I was looking straight at Cyber when the words formed. They were meant for all of them, but him most of all.
“Mommy, you are squeezing too hard.” Violet’s voice was whiny. With difficulty, I loosened my grip on her. But it was hard. I hated letting go of her, even for a second. And I kept finding myself grabbing her back into my arms so I could hug her some more.
“Sorry, princess.” I smiled ruefully.
“Told you your mom had missed you a bunch,” Cyber chuckled from his place on the edge of the sofa.
