Holden's Resurrection (Gemini Group #6) - Riley Edwards Page 0,76
a deep, plundering kiss from Holden and my morning perked right up.
I didn’t divulge this information. Holden was nothing if not resourceful; if I uttered a word about how much I enjoyed that kiss, he’d exploit it. And I had to be strong, I had to keep my wits about me so I could put up at least an appearance of a fight until I knew for sure Holden was where I needed him to be.
I was beyond lying to myself. I wanted Holden back. I wanted to give my daughter a family. But I wouldn’t settle. I’d wait as long as I needed and protect her as much as I could. But the truth was, Faith was falling for Holden just as fast as I had when I first met him.
There was a lot to fall for, a lot to love. Holden was a good man.
Then why did he break your heart?
I shoved that thought aside and looked over at Holden. “Why are you so quiet?” He hadn’t said a word since we’d dropped Faith off at school and it was starting to irritate me.
“Because you have yourself all worked up.”
“I do not,” I snapped.
“Babe, you look like you’re ready to jump out of the car. And just to say, I’m going fifty-five and I’m afraid that won’t be a deterrent.”
Okay, so maybe I was a little more on edge than I thought I was.
“I won’t jump until you slow down.” I smiled and added, “But anything under ten miles an hour is fair game.”
“You have nothing to worry about.”
Considering we were on our way to the courthouse for Patricia, Beatrice, and Chad’s bail hearing, I didn’t know how he could say that. They’d be there. I’d be there. Holden would be there. We’d all be in the same room together.
“They hate me,” I supplied a reason to worry.
“Great, then we’re all on the same page since you hate them and I absolutely hate them. Jonny’s not feeling particularly friendly toward them and it’s gonna be a toss-up who wants to murder them more. Me, Nix, Chasin or Jameson.”
Oh, hell.
“Nix, Chasin, and Jameson will be there?”
“Of course they will be. Weston’s pissed he pulled the short straw to drive to Delaware to pick up a bond skip. And Alec would be there, too, but he’s taking Micky to talk to Donna Lot.”
The mention of Donna Lot’s name was enough to sober me right up. Suddenly, having to face the Towlers didn’t seem like a big deal. They hated me, so fucking what? Like Holden said, the feeling was mutual and this time I had the upper hand. They were in jail. Faith was home safe and sound—Holden had made sure of that. Donna Lot’s daughter was not and never would be again. My heart broke for the woman.
“Micky told me she was nervous about talking to her,” I told Holden. “She said that when she talked to her over the phone she sounded horrible.”
Holden was quiet for a moment and I thought back to McKenna’s conversation with Kimberly’s mother. Yesterday, I’d been in McKenna’s office when she spoke to the woman. The phone call was brief, Donna had finally agreed to meet with McKenna. But apparently, McKenna hadn’t liked Donna’s tone. She’d described the other woman as sounding dead.
I could imagine that was exactly what Donna Lot was feeling—dead inside.
“I think the grief is finally hitting her. It’s now been over a month. The shock has worn off, along with the disbelief. All that’s left is a gaping hole. Donna has no family in the area. Word is, she’s not seeing any of her friends, she’s stopped all of Kimberly’s friends from visiting her. Part of what Micky’s gonna talk to her about today is allowing her daughter’s friends to come over and talk to her. Micky’s smart and compassionate. She’ll do what she can to help.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Who?”
“Donna.”
“Babe—”
“You said it yourself, she doesn’t have family around. She’s pushed her friends away. Sometimes, it’s easier to talk about your grief with a stranger than it is with someone who knows you.”
Holden’s head snapped to the side and he took me in before his eyes went back to the road.
“Is that how you felt?” he asked.
“How I felt about what?”
“Your grief.”
I couldn’t stop the sigh. Once and for all, this needed to end.
“I didn’t grieve the way you’re thinking.”
“Leigh-Leigh, it’s okay. I don’t want you hiding anything from me. I saw you at his funeral.”