Chapter 13
Dominic’s lawyers moved fast.
They claimed Rocco was mentally unstable.
They claimed Alina was an impostor.
They claimed Serena was confused.
Then they claimed I was a paid liar.
That one made me laugh.
A paid liar would have asked for more than rent money.
Detective Hall warned me Dominic’s allies might come after me.
Rocco offered security.
I refused at first.
Then a black car followed me home after midnight.
The next morning, Rocco did not ask again.
He simply sent a driver and two guards.
“I can’t afford this,” I said.
“You cannot afford danger either.”
I wanted to argue.
Then I thought of my mother in her hospital bed.
I accepted.
My mother cried when she heard what happened.
“Maeve, why are you always running toward trouble?”
“I was kneeling, actually.”
She gave me a tired look.
Even sick, she could still mother me with one eyebrow.
Serena visited her with me.
I was surprised.
She stood awkwardly at the hospital room door with flowers.
“I didn’t know what kind,” she said.
My mother smiled.
“The kind that came is fine.”
Serena laughed softly.
It was the first real laugh I had heard from her.
Later, in the hallway, she said, “Dominic always told me kindness was weakness.”
“My mother says kindness is expensive.”
Serena looked confused.
I smiled.
“It costs pride. Time. Comfort. Sometimes safety.”
She looked down.
“And you paid seven coins.”
May you like
“No,” I said. “I invested them.”
For the first time, Serena smiled like she believed she might survive.
