Page 101 of Awakening the Beast
Arlo’s gaze snaps to mine, his eyes blazing, but I hold his stare, my own eyes pleading with him. “Please, just listen,” I beg.
He stands rigid, his chest heaving with each breath. The frustration in his expression is intense, but I sense a flicker of acceptance.
Seeing this as a moment to move forward, I call out, “Vivienne!”
Arlo’s face twists with irritation as he throws me an angry glare. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Wren!”
Vivienne and my mom step into the room. Vivienne pauses at the threshold, offering a small, hesitant smile, but Arlo’s eyes narrow at her, his scepticism clear.
“Tell him everything,” I direct toward my mom and Vivienne.
As Vivienne begins detailing everything, Arlo remains eerily silent, absorbing every detail without a word. His stillness is unnerving, his face a mask of emotionlessness. He doesn’t flinch or react outwardly. I watch him intently, my heart aching to read his emotions. But Arlo being Arlo, shows no sign of what he’s feeling. His silence is horrible, and his lack of response only deepens my worry.
“But my mom brought me back to New York City, not you,” he finally growls with accusation when he hears something he doesn’t like.
Vivenne nods solemnly. “I know. I wasn’t prepared to have Miguel bring you back until you were fully recovered. But you found your way back before I could intervene,” she explains.
The mention of Miguel makes Arlo’s posture stiffen slightly, a subtle sign that things are starting to click into place for him since no one would have known that name.
“And why the fuck would my mom bring me back if she hated me as much as you say? Why not just leave me in Brazil to die?”
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, but my mom is quicker to respond. “Isn’t it obvious, Arlo? You’re a smart man.”
Arlo’s eyes lock onto hers and I can see he knows deep down, but he’s being stubborn, he doesn’t want to believe it. The truth is a bitter pill to swallow.
My mom continues, “Wren was making things difficult for her. She wasn’t getting the control she wanted with Wren in charge because you left her everything. Bringing you back was her way of regaining that power and control. It was her attempt to reassert herself in a situation where she felt she was losing her grip.”
Arlo’s expression remains mysterious, but I can see the wheels turning in his mind as he starts to see the full picture of Carmella’s manipulations.
I watch as his jaw flexes, his teeth grinding, then his eyes slowly lift to meet mine. “You think she’s the one who made the hit on you when you were pregnant with Lumi?” he asks, as if it's just the two of us in the room and my stomach drops.
I nod slowly, “I know she did.” I say without hesitation.
Before I can explain further, Arlo’s anger finally erupts. He growls loudly as he turns on his heel and starts walking away, his hand dragging roughly over his face.
“Arlo!” I call out, desperate to tell him what else I found, but my mom steps in front of me while the front door slams closed behind him.
“Let him process everything, darling.”
At that moment, her phone starts ringing. She quickly retrieves it, answering with a sharp focus. “Yes?” she asks, listening intently, then nods.
“Okay. On route.” She hangs up and turns to me. “Time to move. Carmella is planning to leave, now.”
My eyes widen as she grabs my hand, pulling me toward the door.
“But Arlo!” I protest, my heart racing.
She stops, turning to face me with a hard look. “If you don’t stop her now, nothing will, Wren,” she says. “We have to make tough decisions, with or without our husbands. This is in the best interest of you, the kids, and ultimately Arlo. This. Ends. Now.”
I soak in her words, knowing she right, but I can’t help but think about the man I love in all of this. How he is feeling.
I sigh, pulling my hand free from her grasp and head over to the coffee table. I lift the laptop and tuck it under my arm before heading for the front door.
“Let’s go,” I mutter.
When we pull up to Carmella’s house, we all get out of the car. Without hesitation, I shoot at the camera and intercom on the door, shattering it to pieces. Then, as soon as I am close enough, I push the handle down and enter the mansion.
It’s quiet in the foyer, too silent, but it doesn’t stop me. As Jasper, Vivenne, and my mom trail behind me carefully, we all ascend the grand staircase, all on high alert and ready to find her.
