Page 47 of Cash
Over her head, I met Lana’s eyes, seeing a smugness that made me wonder what strings had been pulled behind the scenes.With Eliza finally free from the nightmare once consuming her life, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the how or why.Eliza and Lily were safe.Together.And I planned to make damn sure they stayed that way.
The bright spring sunlight hit us like a physical force as we pushed through the courthouse doors onto the wide stone steps.Eliza fumbled in her purse for her sunglasses, her hands still shaky with relief.
“I keep waiting for someone to tell me there’s been a mistake,” she admitted quietly.“That we have to go back in.”
I rested my hands on her shoulders.“No mistakes.No more fighting.It’s done.”
“Ms.Thompson.”The voice came from behind me, formal and tight.
I turned to find Martin, the State’s Attorney, approaching us with measured steps.His eyes were fixed not on me but on Lana, who ended her call when she spotted him.
“Mr.Martin,” she acknowledged smoothly.“Something else?”
His jaw worked for a moment before he spoke.“A word, if you don’t mind.”
Lana nodded to us.“I’ll just be a moment.”
I watched as they moved several paces away, not quite out of earshot.Martin positioned himself with his back to us, but I still heard him.
“I did what I was asked to do,” he said, voice low but intense.“Now have Antonio Miles back off.”
The name sent a jolt through me.Tonio Miles.Knuckles had mentioned him his day at Haven, when Ms.Winters had taken Lily away.Said he’d “take care of it.”I remembered Lana’s reaction too, the way her expression had shifted to a grim satisfaction when Knuckles suggested involving him.
Lana merely shrugged, her face a perfect mask of practiced innocence.“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Martin’s shoulders stiffened, his voice dropping even lower.“This is serious.He made certain promises if I handled this case personally.Those promises need to be kept.”
“Then I suggest you take it up with Mr.Miles,” Lana replied coolly.“Powerful as the man is, I’m not his messenger.My client’s case has been dismissed.That’s all I’m concerned about.”
Martin’s face tightened, a muscle jumping in his jaw as he glared at her for another moment before walking away.His steps were quick, almost hurried, as if eager to put distance between himself and whatever complications Tonio Miles represented.
I approached Lana, brow furrowed.“What the hell was that about?”
She slipped her phone into her pocket, the sunlight catching in her sleek hair as she shook her head.“The less you know, the better.”
“That’s not an answer,” I pressed, keeping my voice low so I didn’t stress Eliza.She stood a few steps away, face turned toward the sky, seeming to savor sun shining on her face.“If Tonio Miles is involved in this --”
“Cash,” Lana interrupted, her voice gentle but firm.“You won a huge victory today.Focus on the win.”She glanced meaningfully toward Eliza.“Focus on her.Some questions don’t need answers, especially when those answers might complicate things you care about.Trust me when I tell you, she is completely free.Anything Tonio did, he did for Knuckles.”
Sometimes knowing too much created its own problems.And hadn’t I learned in prison there were systems within systems, power structures invisible to most people?Whatever Miles had done, it had freed Eliza and Lily, which was the important thing.
Movement across the plaza caught my eye.Ash stood near a row of neatly trimmed hedges, watching us.He maintained a respectful distance, making no move to approach Eliza, but his presence acknowledged the outcome mattered to him.Lily was safe, her custody secure with Eliza.
Our gaze met briefly across the distance.He nodded once.Ash would always be Lily’s father.I would be whatever Eliza needed me to be.Whatever we became together.And I would love both my girls with every single piece of my heart.I returned the nod before turning back to Eliza.I slipped my arm around her waist, drawing her against my side.
“Ready to go?”I asked softly.
She leaned into me, some of the tension finally leaving her body.“More than ready.”She glanced around, spotting Ash in the distance and raised her hand to him.Ash gave her a two-finger salute then got on his bike and left.“Let’s go home.”
* * *
The whiskey burned a pleasant path down my throat as I watched Eliza move around my apartment.The amber liquid caught the low lamplight, throwing golden reflections onto the coffee table between us.She’d kicked off her shoes hours ago.We’d spent the afternoon with Lily, celebrating the end of a long and trying journey.Ash had spent some time with us, but mostly it had been me and my girls.
Hannah had moved us to one of the larger apartments in the center of the compound.We had a massive loft with four bedrooms.Lily had been delighted with her own room she could decorate however she wanted, and I could admit to looking forward to buying all the stuffed, pink, furry things she wanted.
Now, with Lily sound asleep in her room, I spent time with Eliza in the large living room, enjoying the feeling of having a home and family for the first time in a long time.
Eliza paused by the record collection, her fingers trailing over the spines.She wore the same dress from court, but her hair now tumbled loose around her shoulders, freed from the tight bun she’d worn earlier.The sight of her there, so at ease among my things, hit me harder than the whiskey.
