50 Shades of Drake 5 and 6

More Life: Chapter Fifty-Two

    Houston International was an intentional circus. Everyone was given the chance to remain on the jet if so desired, but most wanted to get off the jet and stretch their legs. Use a real bathroom that had actual space to move around. Food, snacks, and drinks had been provided on the jet. Agents surrounded Aubrey, Destiny, and Carlos at all times - that alone garnered attention from the public. Press had been called into Phoenix Airport, but not Houston. The press was there anyway, ready and willing to film Aubrey's posse as they moved throughout the airport. 

    "Oh my God!" someone screamed upon passing Aubrey and Destiny. Eyes and mouth open wide, disbelief morphing the facial features. The woman even raised a finger to point at the two of them. "It's Destiny and Aubrey Graham! Destiny is alive! She's alive!"

    A curious mob formed around the agents and small group of friends, and that is when the press materialized out of thin air with cameras already mounted atop their shoulders and mic in hand. Ticketing agents posted at the nearby gates craned their necks to see what the fuss was all about. Then, a few of them immediately grabbed for their phones and started texting their friend groups. Pictures were taken and sent in those friend groups. Whispers generated, moving like dominos through the group of curious onlookers. 

    Destiny's hand was clasped firmly in Aubrey's, but she bravely faced the crowd without trying to hide from them. 

    Members of the press tried pushing to the front of the mob.

    Aubrey glanced down at Destiny. "You're sure you're okay with this?"

    "I kind of have to be, now," she pointed out. "It's a bit late to change my mind and turn back."

    A familiar face from a popular entertainment media blog surged to the front of the crowd and was the first to make it to the famous couple. "This is Nate Brenner with TNZ and I am here with Aubrey Graham and Destiny Richards. Destiny, the entire country thought you were dead as result of a tragic auto accident. Care to comment on how you're standing before us now?"

    It had been relatively easy to put her brave face on, but she hadn't really thought as to how she'd answer the media's questions. That was something she probably should've practiced with Aubrey. She nervously glanced at him.

    He passed the glance onto the agents grouped around them. Then, he lowered his gaze back to Destiny and tipped his head forward in encouragement.

    She slowly faced the reporter's camera and explained, "The tragedy you're referring to was a planned attack, an attempt on my life."

    Gasps sounded throughout the crowd, and those gasps turned into low murmurs. 

    Destiny swept hair back from her face. "From then until now, politician Harry Palmer has continued to make attempts on both of our lives. I was placed into hiding for my protection, and Palmer still found me. After being made to believe I was dead, Aubrey hunted me down and found me. We relocated and Palmer still found us. Palmer's resources are endless. He's even been able to infiltrate government organizations. When we realized how far his reach was, we made the decision to come out of hiding. We will remain in this country until we both serve as witnesses at his trial. This man is evil. This man is diabolical. And he has to be stopped."

    Cameras flashed, phones were pointed in her general direction, and more mics sprang up out of the crowd. "Do you feel like you're risking your life by coming back to the States?"

    "I feel like our lives are at risk no matter where we are," she answered. "But I'm tired of hiding. If anything happens to either of us, I want the world to know whose hand orchestrated our demise."

    A few of the reported gave approving looks at her word choice.

   One of the agents glanced at his watch and raised both hands into the air. "I wish we had more time, but we really should be getting Mr. Graham and Ms. Richards back on the plane," he announced. The team of agents maneuvered their subjects and ushered them past the mob.

    Destiny gingerly tapped him on the shoulder. "Can I borrow your phone? I don't want my parents catching wind of this from a news report."

    The agent hesitated only briefly before unlocking the device and handing her the phone.

    She hurriedly dialed her parents' home number as she shuffled within the circle of agents around them. 

    "Hello?"

    Destiny froze at the sound of her mother's voice. She stopped in her tracks, holding the phone to her ear but too choked up to respond.

    "Hello? This is the Richards residence. Can you hear me? This godforsaken thing."

    She almost laughed through the tears that were coming. "Mom?"

    "Wait." Her mother was breathing a little more quickly now. "Destiny?"

    "Mom," Destiny breathed out, sinking to the floor.

    Aubrey was at her side in seconds, his arms around her.

    The FBI agents tightened the circle around them, facing outward to watch for any potential threats amongst the chaotic environment that was the Houston International Airport. 

    "Is that really you?" Mrs. Richards asked excitedly, her voice trembling. Before Destiny could even answer, she was shouting and calling for her husband to pick up the other line.

    "It's me, Mom."

    "How is this possible?" her mother demanded. "We buried you."

    There was a clicking sound, and then Mr. Richards's gruff voice. "Yeah, who is this?"

    "It's our baby," Mrs. Richards cried out, sobbing into the phone. "She's okay."

    "What?"

    "Hi, Dad," Destiny greeted, wiping her nose and sagging against Aubrey for support.

    "Des?" her father demanded sharply. "What the hell?"

    "Language," Mrs. Richards chided softly.

    "I...we had a funeral," Mr. Richards said. "They told us that you...that you'd...that you were no longer...we...we had a funeral."

    "Yeah, Dad...that funeral was a bit premature," Destiny said, laughing through her tears.

    Her parents laughed - and cried - along with her.

    Aubrey remained quiet, but an unspeakable amount of love filled his eyes as his arms went around her. "My turn after you," he said, tucking strands of blonde hair behind one of her ears.

    She smiled gratefully at him.