Bound to Forever - Book ll

A Daughter's Goodbye

Kiera's Point of View:

My heart was racing, more than it has before that I could recall. The medical examiner's office was cold, yet too bright for my liking. I hated it, especially knowing the reason why I was here in the first place. Simon kept a firm grip on my hand and offered to take Stella while I took a few moments to be with my mother. God, I can't accept this, nor do I want to, but I need closure. I need to know why this happened, especially to my own mother. Steve was my number one suspect, considering the fact that he seemed to be completely AWOL since I found out my mom was murdered. 

He was always so clingy when he wasn't around her, calling the landline when he couldn't get her to pick up her cell phone, and since she was killed, the landline hasn't rung once. In fact, neither Simon or I have heard from him or about him since. 

And one thing I knew about catching a criminal, especially a man, they suck at hiding things. 

Take Graves for example: that piece of shit knew why I was even there in the first place and kept giving himself away the more I questioned him, now look where he's at. 

In the fucking ground somewhere. 

Right where he belongs. 

"Mrs. Riley? Whenever you're ready." The mortician sighed at me, sharing the same look of dread and sorrow in her eyes. She had experience with this, obviously, but it hurt worse every single time she had to deal with a child losing one of their parents. 

"I'll be right here, love," Simon assured me, gently squeezing my hand before he helped me stand up. We had agreed prior to me having a moment alone with my mother - to let me grieve at my own terms, and I was okay with that. I knew I would completely break down, and I didn't want him to see that, especially with Stella in the mix, even though she was too young to know what was going on. 

Baler wanted to come with me, and I didn't argue. He loved my mom like his own, and he had every right in my opinion. Though it's kind of ironic the more I think about it: I was there for Baler when his father was on his deathbed, and now Baler is here for me when the time came for me to say goodbye to my mother. 

Except the difference is that Baler hated his blood father - his "sperm donor" as he calls him. 

Baler was ready to walk with me, but I stopped him, "Not yet honey. I'll... I'll come and get you." 

"But-" He was as equally heartbroken, but Simon stopped him from finishing his sentence with a gentle glare, telling him that he needed to wait until I was ready for him to see his Nana. 

I followed the mortician into the morgue, tightening Simon's jacket around me to keep the chill off of my forearms. I knew my mom was under that sheet on the table in front of me, yet I was still hoping it was someone else. At this point, I would rather my mom be missing with the chance of being alive than cold and deceased right on a mortician's table. "Whenever you're ready, Mrs. Riley. I'll give you some time." 

"T-Thank you." 

"You're welcome. I'm so sorry for your loss." 

I heard the soft click on the door before a deep sigh left my lungs. Steadily, my hand reached up to the edge of the sheet, slowly revealing my mom's face into the light. Fuck, I shouldn't have done this. "Oh, momma," The tears were flowing now, and I kept scolding myself to be strong for her, but I wasn't expecting to have to see my mom like this! Every person assumes their parents to pass away peacefully, not like this! "What has he done to you?" 

I saw the two exit wounds, and it broke my heart into a million pieces. The shots were accurate, letting me know that she didn't accidentally get herself mixed up into the crossfire, but instead shot intentionally. But why? So many questions were going through my mind, and I wish I could've asked her, but I was on a dead-end road and had to rely on Simon for answers, but I'm too stubborn - even he knows that.