Chapter 46
Anjali and Giovanni looked out of place sitting in Mila and Archer's living room.
Mila stared at them, trying to figure out why her comfortable living room was suddenly so cold and discombobulated. Was it the way Anjali looked around? Was it the way Giovanni shifted uncomfortably as if he didn't want to make eye contact with Mila?
"The house looks beautiful," Anjali rose from her seat and walked over to the picture frames by the window.
"Thank you," Mila muttered quietly. Her heart pounded inside her chest as she began to pick at the chipped nail polish on her fingers. "Archer?"
"Right here," Archer stepped out of the kitchen and walked to stand beside Mila. He turned towards Giovanni and smiled awkwardly. "Coffee? Tea?"
"No, thank you," Giovanni cleared his throat. "We had breakfast."
"Are you guys staying in town?" Mila asked.
"Yes," Anjali turned back towards the sofa. "We arrived yesterday."
Mila slowly nodded, "You and who else?"
Giovanni looked at his daughter and then at Anjali, "Just us."
Archer made a sound at the back of his throat that was a cross between a snort and a huff.
"No," he said, leaning against the door frame. "You didn't come alone. Jeremiah's here with five of his guys, isn't he? Two for the front door, two for the back, and one in the car."
"We're not here for that," Giovanni explained. "We just wanted to come see you and Mila."
"Why?" Mila asked, her heart starting to beat a little faster. She could feel the sweat at the back of her neck.
"Because we love you," Anjali answered. "And we're sorry for everything."
Archer's eyes flickered towards Mila. He knew from the way she talked about Geet and Anjali that she had been missing them terribly. His heart squeezed thinking about Mila being away from her loved ones. But it was more painful to think they were here to take her away from him.
"Mila," Anjali spoke her daughter's name softly. "I know your dad and I were against you and Archer. But you have to understand that we just wanted you to be safe-"
"I can't do this again," Mila rose from her chair and headed towards the kitchen.
Archer quietly pushed the small stool out of the way without thinking, making sure Mila didn't trip over it on her way out. Her eyes were full of tears and that was never a good thing.
Giovanni and Anjali watched from where they sat on the sofa. Their eyes were full of emotions that sawm behind a thin sheet of nervousness.
"Archer," Giovanni spoke softly. "We're not here to separate you two. We realized our mistake and we're here to tell you both that we want you two to be together. We see how happy you make each other."
"Bullshit!" Mila shouted, walking back into the room. "You'll probably sweet talk us back to Del Mare and then lock us away in different places."
"Mila!" Anjali shook her head. "Honey, no."
"Baby, we're so sorry about everything," Giovanni stood and reached out for Mila.
"Don't touch her," Archer muttered with a deep scowl on his face. He watched Giovanni's hand as if it was a snake.
"She's our daughter," Giovanni reminded him.
"Why now?" Mila asked, stepping around Archer to stand between him and her father. "What changed? Why are you here now? We don't want to go back. We're fine here."
