Adrenaline

Chaper 18

Find My Way Back - Eric Arjes

***
September 18th
6 Months Earlier
Draven's Office
***

"Cynthia told me this bullshit would get easier over time," closing the door behind me, I walk into Draven's office uninvited but welcome, he peers up at me with a look of complete abandon, one perfectly winged eyeliner resting above his left eye, a less symmetrical one on the right, "she lied."

Walking across to him, I slide his chair back, slipping a leg on either side of his body and getting into a highly complex straddling position, one leg tucked behind his back, the other pressing into the soft fabric. Taking the eyeliner from his hands, I grab his chin between my thumb and forefinger, turning his face to the side and taking him by surprise.

"Frankie came to me today." Glancing back at me without moving his head, I raise an eyebrow in acknowledgment, focusing on the gentle flick a few centimetres from his eyebrow.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, he's offering $4500."

"For who?"

"One of Harper's guys. Tony Grimstone. Apparently he's being too trigger happy on Harp's land. You up for it?"

"Tell him to consider it done. Either me or Alec will head over there tonight, but Harper knows the rules: he pays before."

"Already has."

"Where's Em-"

In one sudden commotion, the main door swings open, hitting the attached wall so hard the room vibrates with aftershocks, forcing me upright as Draven's chair spins slightly.

Hunter stands in the doorframe with a infuriating smirk, an all-knowing, asshole kind of smirk that somehow drives anyone he wants to their knees; literally. It's only when I look down that I finally notice the small girl stood just a few inches in front of him, her head not quite reaching his hips as she drowns in my old hoodie, the hood falling half way down her back.

"Thena!" Rushing forward, Emily wraps a pair of surprisingly strong arms around my legs, her face pressed into my left thigh with what you'd assume is painful force.

Until I met Emily, smiling was a rarity, a trick to draw people in, merely a move in a game, but with Emily, it was just a feature, a way to display emotion. An emotion I hadn't had in a long time. The girl had been barely a year and a half old when I'd first met her, big brown eyes staring right at your soul without judgement. Emily gave everyone a chance to reinvent themselves; to be better and those that didn't... they faced Draven.

Placing a soft hand on her arms, I detach her from me, barely creating enough space to allow me to kneel next to her, my head still inches above hers.

Smiling at me, Em places two tiny hands on my shoulders, a serious look plastered over her face forcing me to bite back a laugh as Hunter nods solemnly behind her, obviously already having heard whatever comes next.

"Thena. Are you listening to me?"

Nodding with her, I can't help but be enchanted. Utterly and completely devoted to my second chance. Dark hair flows to her shoulders, a trait gifted to her by Draven, her features a carbon copy of her fathers, thankfully the only trait of her mother being the soft brown of her eyes. That woman was nothing more than a manipulative surrogate, she was no mother, no mom. She was nothing to Emily and I swore I'd keep it that way.

Emily Silvano deserved the world.

"I'm listening, Em."

"Good because this is super important, okay? Super important." Trying to shake my shoulders, she narrows her eyes at me before offering a tiny pinky finger, waiting until I wrap mine around hers in silent promise. It doesn't matter that I don't know what I'm promising, like I said: she deserves the world.

Seemingly satisfied with my vow, she turns to nod at Hunter softly earning a warm smile as he steps forward, handing her a piece of paper before taking back his original position.

Em, suddenly nervous, begins to bite her lip, letting her eyes trail over the scrawling words with hesitation. Placing my hand over hers, I grin at her, nodding at the paper with encouragement.

"You wanna read it to me, Em?"

She nods once, more firmly this time before clearing her throat and getting a choked chuckle from Draven who mutters his apologies, surrendering to his daughter.

"Okay. To my 'Thena: daddy says that my mommy is in heaven, that's where people go when they've been so good God wants them back," Biting my tongue I force myself not to react, Draven's sharp inhale an obvious betrayal that he hates nothing more than the one lie to his daughter, "but I had a dream last night and I saw my angel mommy. She told me that I could have a second mommy, one that loved me as long as I always kept her up here,"

Tapping her head, Emily doesn't look up from the page, remaining oblivious to the sudden stillness in the atmosphere. Dravens sat straighter than I've ever seen him, his shoulder blades almost ripping the fabric of his shirt, eyes locked onto his daughter. Hunters hand is white, wrapped around the doorknob whilst resisting the urge to try and do something, to try to stop, rewind, do anything but let Emily finish. And me? I'm frozen, watching the girl in front of me, unable to think of anything but the obvious.

Emily Silvano deserves better.

"Thena; when you came here my daddy said not to talk to you, that you were a bad girl and I shouldn't talk to bad girls; but I'm very very happy I didn't listen because if I had you and my daddy wouldn't be looking after me right now. You and Al take me out for ice-cream, and you bought me a night-light. You braid my hair when I ask you to and you're never, ever rude to me. I think that's what a mommy's supposed to do. And I know you do bad things, Thena but if you can be good to me, you could be good to everyone, especially me and daddy."

Trailing off, she looks up at me, a soft blush crossing her cheeks as her hand fold in front of her chest.

"I'd really like you to stay, Thena, so I think you should be here and stay as my second mommy."

That night, after Draven had tucked her in, making vague evasions of any questions she had, blatantly unable to lie, we left.

We left because we all had the same, sole idea:

Emily Silvano deserved better.