Silvia’s head pounded. With each thump, she saw flashes of red. It felt as if she were lying on her mother’s apartment floor again, staring up at the ceiling as blood rushed from her body.
Daire touched her back, bringing her to the present.
She twisted from his touch and paced the floor. “Wait? What? I don’t understand. Dominic got thirty years. The prosecutor said he wouldn’t be up for parole for at least fifteen to twenty years.”
“Not parole. Dominic appealed the case, demanding a retrial. He filed an appeal, stating something about the judge sentencing him as a repeat offender for a felony possession he received in New Mexico. His attorney’s arguing that since it was out of state… Plus, some other nonsense about a request for your records—”
“My records. Records of what? What does that mean?”
“I don’t know, Christiana. Apparently, his attorney requested mental health records on you, but you were a minor. You know how these cases go. That man in California stabbed his girlfriend twenty-three times, and he’s free now…after only serving eight years.”
“But that was California, not Arizona. Ma-ma… I can’t—”
“Mi’ja… You must.” Her mother used the endearment she’d always used when she was a child. The one when she would give her a goodnight kiss and tell her she loved her and that all would be wonderful in the world.”
Lies. No matter what she did or how far she ran, her past would always come back to her. She was the victim and yet, she was the one who was really sentenced.
No! I am not a victim. I am a survivor!
“Christiana, my darling. I’m so sorry. I wish—”
“Ma-ma,” Silvia cut her off. “It’s not your fault. It’s neither of our faults. We mustn’t let Dominic tear us apart; he chose what he wanted to do.”
“So, you will come home to testify, then?”
Silvia blew out a long breath. “What choice do I have?”
“I know. I wish you didn’t have to live through it again. I wish your sister didn’t have to either.”
“Is Silvia beside you, ma-ma?”
“She’s asleep. I haven’t told her about the trial yet. I will, though. The only good thing about this is that we will see you again.”
“Yes, ma-ma. That is a good thing. I love you.
“I love you, too, mi’ja. All will be okay.”
Silvia sniffed. “Yeah… So you’ve always said. Goodbye, ma-ma. Call me back when you know all the details, please.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She hung up. She and her mother could go back and forth all day, which would eat up the minutes of the burner phone.
Daire stepped in front of her, stopping her movement; she hadn’t realized she’d still been pacing the small living room.
“I’m going with you.”
“Daire… I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I do. You need support. And protection. I have friends that have gone through the same thing. If you’re gonna be there, you can be sure that Dominic’s brother—what did you say his name was?”
Silvia stared into his brown eyes, which looked browner than usual. Actually, they looked black. She realized that his pupils nearly touched the edges of his irises. Dare was angry. She’d never seen him like this.
He leaned forward at the hips, cocking his head. “His brother’s name?”
“Luis.” She answered, even though she wasn’t sure if she should.
“Is he on social media? I want to see pictures of him.”
“Daire—”
“I’m not stupid, Silvia. I know not to fly off in a rage. I understand justice doesn’t work that way. But I want to be prepared. I want to make sure that I’m ready if this dirtbag comes near you.”
Silvia ran her hands through her hair. She did need protection. Luis had made it clear that he’d finish the job if he caught up with her.
“Okay. You’re right. But I don’t want to put you in harm’s way, either.”
“I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”
Silvia huffed through her nose. It wasn’t funny, but Daire’s demeanor right now made her laugh. She knew he was strong. He was tall and built, but…
“The problem is, Daire, that Luis… He won’t fight fair. With Luis, it won’t be about you being able to take care of yourself. There wouldn’t be a fair fight—he would bring a knife or a gun.”
~ Daire ~
The state attorney’s office hadn’t given Silvia much notice. Apparently, Dominic had filed for the appeal ages ago, but they only notified her mother once the dates were set.
As they readied to exit the plane, Daire’s heart pumped harder. He’d never been out of Alaska. He’d never been away from his large family. Somehow, always knowing he had the support of his older brothers, he’d never worried about his safety. He knew one of them would always be there.
Now, not only was he stepping out into a foreign land, but he’d also lost his support group.
As soon as the captain turned off the seatbelt light, Daire jumped up, marking his territory. He’d only flown in their charter and rescue planes before now, so Silvia had directed him to keep his territory.
She’d been right. A person would think that the flight attendant had just announced that the plane’s tail was on fire.
Daire pulled down their individual carry-on bags, then made a spot for Silvia to step out in front of him.
He stared out the small windows at the bright open sky. As they’d landed, Daire had been surprised at the Phoenix area. It looked like a metropolis within a giant crater surrounded by mountains. If they ever domed a city, he imagined they’d start in Phoenix.
“Are you nervous?” He rested a hand on Silvia’s—Christiana’s shoulder, flipping back a strand of the shoulder-length chestnut wig she wore. While they were in Phoenix, he somehow had to get used to the brown hair and calling her Christiana. He told her he’d just call her babe.
She looked up at him over her shoulder. “Yeah, but I’m also a bit excited. I didn’t think I’d get to introduce you to my mom and sister. Hell, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see them again, so…”
Daire smiled, then nudged her forward, so the crowd behind them wouldn’t get anxious and turn into a stampede. “I’m excited, too. And I have to say, I like you as a brunette.”
She rolled her eyes, then faced forward, inching her way up the aisle. “Just because it’s different,” she called around her side.
“Hm. Maybe. Like I said, I don’t care what color your hair is or what I call you. I love you for you.”
She reached behind her and tapped his leg, the only part of him she could reach without taking her eye off the cattle in front of her. “Thank you. Enough talk about hair and names, okay?”
Daire leaned over her shoulder. He could reach all of her. “Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her cheek, then stood upright. His heart still pounded furiously inside his chest, but the fact that she seemed calm warmed him.
No way he would have let her come alone.
As they exited the plane for the walkway to the terminal, Daire felt a whiff of the heat. Not so bad. Alaska got warm sometimes.
Walking through the airport was also a treat. The walkways were wide and filled with shops touting their wares. Unlike Ted Stevens’ two terminals, Sky Harbor had four terminals. Most of Anchorage’s business was cargo since it was centrally located between major continents.
“Mom’s here. She’s just going to pick us up outside baggage claim.”
“Where’s that?”
Silvia pointed. “Just follow the horde.”
“Right.” Several escalators later, rows and rows of conveyor belts circulated luggage. “Wow. There’re a lot of people in the world. It’s easy to forget when you live in the land of trees and mountains.”
“Yeah… Wait’ll you see the highways.”
“Oh, God.”
“That’s why Mom’s picking us up. Even I don’t drive the Phoenix freeways.”
The sliding doors opened, and Daire walked out, trailing his carry-on behind him. “Holy hell!” He backed up, wanting to run back to Alaska. “How in the hell can you breathe?”
Silvia bent over, laughing. “I’ll remind you of that when we’re breathing in ice crystals come January.
Well, at least he’d made her laugh. Better, she planned to be with him seven months from now. “I’ll look forward to that.”
Silvia ran toward a blue minivan. The driver inched forward, finding a spot, and before the van rocked to a stop, a woman hopped out the back and ran into Silvia’s arms.
“My sister,” the woman sobbed. “I missed you.”
The driver stepped out and ran to Silvia and the woman. Hugs and tears dominated the reunion.
Daire stood back, then realized he better take control before the authorities told them to move along. He snatched up Silvia’s carry-on piece and rolled both his and hers to the back hatch. He checked the latch and found it unlocked, so he shoved the cases inside, then made his way back to the women, who were still hugging.
Silvia stepped back first. “I’m sorry. Daire, this is my mother, Sonia. And my sister, Silvia.”
Silvia wasn’t much taller than his Silvia, but she was heavier. She plowed forward, wrapping her arms around him. “Hello, Daire. I’m Silvia.”
“Daire returned the hug, smiling. “Nice to meet you, Silvia. Your sister has told me so much about you. I feel like I already know you.”
She stepped back, looking at her sister. “She did. So you’ll be my friend?”
“Of course, I will. Best friends.”
She clapped, then ran to her mother’s side. “Did you hear that, ma-ma?”
“I did,” Sonia said, extending a hand to Daire since her eldest daughter had her arms wrapped around her waist. “Hello, Daire. It’s so good to meet you. We should probably get going, though. Daire, how about you sit in the front passenger seat, so Silvia and Christiana can sit together in the back?”
“Of course.”
Daire reached for Silvia’s backpack, then offered a hand to her older sister to help her inside the van.
She giggled. “Daire’s nice.”
Silvia nodded and flashed him a smile. “Yes, he is.”
“I like him better than Dominic,” she said honestly.
His Silvia shook her head. “I do, too.”
Daire rolled the side door closed, then hopped in the front.
Sonia was already buckled in. She shifted the lever to drive. “Forgive, Silvia. She’s still very young.”
Daire waved his hands, then smiled back at the sweet woman. “She’s wonderful.”
The broad beaming smile the woman offered made Daire feel privileged to be here. He now understood that no matter what his Silvia thought she was destined to be, he knew better. She was destined to be a hero. Her mother was a hero.
Most mothers were heroes just for putting up with their kids—his especially. But adopting a baby who no one wanted, even before you had your own child, was the epitome of selflessness.
His thoughts flashed back to his own mother—his birth mother. She was far from being a hero, but did that mean he had to mimic her behavior?
No, it didn’t. Silvia didn’t need to tell him he was exhibiting selfish behavior. If he had the means to save someone, he would. He walked into fires for people he didn’t even know, so shouldn’t he do this one thing for the woman who chose to carry him for nine months?
According to Sam, Ava had done everything Claire asked of her while she was pregnant, so he could be thankful to her for that. If she’d continued to abuse drugs, there was no telling what he’d be today.
Making his resolution, Daire turned to look at his Silvia. “I know now isn’t the time, but I want you to know… I’m going to help Ava.”
She offered him a soft smile. “I’m glad. I think that’s wonderful.” She squeezed his shoulder, then turned back to her sister, giving her all the attention she’d missed over the years.
Yes, his Silvia was a hero…just like her mother. He’d spent his life trying to help people. He didn’t know if it was within him…if he’d been born with it, or if after watching his brothers save so many lives over the years that it made him want it. But he wanted to be a hero. He wanted to be a real hero, someone who would put his life before others. So he would do what he could to save Ava, a woman he didn’t even know and probably would never know.