Book 2 of 2, sequel to Alaska's Illicit.
In which Mikaere returns to Alaska, but upon arriving realizes that she has a new problem: Vaughn, Darren, or should she just stick with Jared?
Vaughn's past and life are revealed, and also a serial killer mi...
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: DEBBY
For Mikaere, Vaughn, and their mutual friends, November passed quickly. As did December.
With the exception of Jasmine and Darren, they all grew closer, with shared meals and new inside jokes. However, Mikaere, even with Vaughn's past now clear to her, still remained hesitant, reminding herself of Jasmine's words and heeding them. If anything, with Vaughn's past out in the open, she became more hesitant. Not in a way that blamed Vaughn, or was fearful of him, but hesitant in the way that anyone in her situation would be.
But with the hesitancy, came the awareness. Always aware of Vaughn's eyes on her entering the room or the way his hair looked so soft and seemed to fall into place so perfectly. The ever-growing thought of, maybe it's worth the risk. But then there was doubt to reinstate hesitancy's place in her emotions, and things remained the same.
On November 10th, she turned 19 and reminisced at the events that followed her 18th birthday. On November 16th, she thought of how it was the one-year anniversary of having met Vaughn, shocked at how fast the time seemed to have gone. She didn't text him about it, but she didn't have to. He, too, remembered, and was thinking the same.
The beginning of November through the end of December, though important to the group's friendship, was for the most part uneventful. They all worked and were tired, Red grew, and no one caught the serial killer.
Now, that last part might seem ridiculous and unlikely, especially with the addition of the FBI getting involved. (Or perhaps that doesn't change a thing.) However, when it's taken into account that the man's family found him and began harboring him somewhere, trying to get him help, it's really not.
But the public doesn't know what to think. Because the attacks literally stopped overnight. Most are skeptical, others still fearful. Only a few don't care, and they tend to have dark hair.
Since he was removed from the streets in late October, the killer has not improved. He still remains tormented, hurt beyond measure, propped up in the extravagant bedroom, indifferent to the luxury around him.
The family knows that even if word were to get out about the situation, they would still be fine. But until they can spin the story to do any damage to who they know is responsible, they want it quiet.
So they keep it quiet.
...
It is early January and Siara has dragged Mikaere to go shopping with her. Zeke and Vaughn have also come along as well, one enjoying the social outing more than the other.
Zeke and Siara's wedding is now only a few months away, and with Mikaere now expected to attend, she wants to find a dress. And Vaughn has been hoping to find the perfect gift for his sister. He's already bought off their registry, but he still wants to get something meaningful for her personally. If only he could just find some long-lost necklace that belonged to their mother and just give that to her. He's thinking he'll probably end up having to enlist Zeke or Mikaere to help him.
