No escape from the past (book 1)

Chapter three

~ Third POV ~

Thomas and Arthur go back to the car. They see Mila sitting in the back, eyes on clothes and her chest rising up and down. Thomas and Arthur step into the car and sigh.

'You got yourself a bloody daughter, Tommy,' Arthur says and looks at the girl behind him. 'Do you think this is the best plan.'

'I don't know, Arthur,' Tommy says and starts the motor. 'But there is no turning back now. I think she will be a great Shelby.'

'Do you think she will take our family name?' Arthur asks and Thomas shakes his head. They slowly drive away the horse behind them.

'Not right away, we just need to make sure that everyone knows she belongs to the Shelby's,' Thomas says and Arthur nods. 'I hope she will tell me about her life in France.'

'I hope the same, Tommy,' Arthur says and looks outside. 'But I think she will be just as stubborn as you are.'

They drive back to Birmingham and Mila sleeps the whole ride. She doesn't lift an eye when they ride into Birmingham and the sound of the city begins to rise. They stop by Charlie and Arthur gets out.

'I'll be back, I'll bring Mila home,' Tommy says and Arthur nods. Tommy drives away and stops before the house. He slowly steps out and sees that Mila is still asleep. He sighs and knocks on his door.

Aunt Pol opens the door and sees Tommy and the girl in the car. She sighs and grabs the small suitcase that is standing next to her. Tommy carefully picks her up and brings her inside. Polly looks closely how Tommy does it and helps him lay her on the couch.

They sit quietly next to each other and watch the girl sleep.

'It's a beautiful girl, Tommy,' Polly says and looks at the girl. She has long black hair with small braids in them. Her hands are red and bruised, you can see the dirt on her hands. 'What's her name?'

'Mila, Mila Lavigne,' he says slowly and tilts his head, watching her. 'She's been an orphan for seven years, three of them in England and in that bloody orphanage, before that, probably in France, during the war.'

'Did she tell you anything about her time there?' Polly asks and he shakes his head. 'Do you think she will?'

'I don't know,' he answers and stands up. 'Can you look after her, I have some business to attend to. Tell her that when she wakes up.'

'I will, Tommy,' Polly says and smiles a little. Tommy nods and leaves. Polly watches the girl closely.

~ Mila POV ~

I slowly open my eyes and close them right away when I see the light. I blink a few times and open them again. I don't know where I am and slowly sit up. I see a woman sitting on a chair in front of me and she looks up.

'You're awake,' she says and I raise my eyebrows.

'No, I'm sleeping with my eyes open,' I say sarcastically and immediately close my mouth again.

'Sarcasm, funny,' the woman says and leans forward. 'I'm Polly, I'm the aunt of Thomas, you can call me Aunt Pol or just Polly what you prefer.'

I slowly nod and look around me. I'm in a small room, but it feels more like home than I have ever felt. I slowly swing my legs over off the couch and point out my hand.

'I'm Mila,' I say and Polly shakes my hand.

'I know,' she says and slowly stands up. 'You are from France, Tommy told me.'

'Yeah,' I answer and look away. I'd prefer not to talk about France, it brings up bad memories and makes sure I can't sleep for the next few weeks.