CHAPTER 8: THE FIRST CRACK
791 Words
The first thing Mira saw when she opened her eyes was her phone.
How was your first day, honey?
Her blood went cold. Honey. Like she knew her. Like she'd heard him call her that a hundred times.
She typed: What do you want?
Three dots. Then nothing.
She dropped the phone and pressed her hands to her face. Six days of pretending she was fine. Six days of acting like her world hadn't shattered.
This morning, something cracked.
He hadn't called. Not once. Six days and he was probably in Alice's bed right now. The woman who called her honey like she had any right.
She grabbed her pillow and screamed into it. The sound of a woman who'd been holding herself together too long.
She cried for the five years she'd given him. For the woman in emerald silk who'd stood in his doorway hoping to be seen. She cried until her throat was raw. Until she had nothing left.
******
9 a.m.
She made it to Lycans. Eyes red. Hands shaking. But she showed up.
Klain grinned. "Day two! You survived."
Mira forced a smile. "Barely."
He looked at her too long. "Are you okay?"
"Just tired."
Zayn sat across from her. Quiet. But she felt him looking. Ace barely glanced at her.
The meeting started. Mira nodded when she was supposed to nod. Smiled when she was supposed to smile. But her hands shook under the table. Her chest was tight.
She didn't hear a word.
*****
1 p.m.
She locked herself in a bathroom stall. Pressed her forehead against the cold door.
Her phone buzzed.
He's with me right now. Want to see?
She deleted it.
You're weak. Like him. But I'm not.
Enjoy watching me take everything.
Mira stared at the screen. Washed her face. Looked in the mirror. A woman she barely recognized.
*****
3 p.m.
Zayn found her in the hallway.
"You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine."
He studied her face. "You can talk to us. If something's wrong."
She wanted to tell him. My fiancé has been cheating. His mistress is texting me. She's threatening to take my company. Someone named Faye is watching me.
"I'm fine."
He nodded. Walked away.
******
6 p.m.
She collapsed on her hotel bed. Curtains drawn. Room dark.
A knock.
"Mira? You in there?" said Pete.
She opened the door.
Pete's smile dropped. "What happened?"
She leaned against the door frame. Too tired to pretend.
"Nothing."
Jimmy stepped forward. "You don't have to be alone."
They came in. Sat in silence. No questions. Just presence.
When they left, Pete hugged her. Tight.
"You're not alone. Remember that."
*****
Mira picked up her phone. Scrolled to his name.
Essie.
Voicemail.
"It's been six days. You haven't called. You haven't even asked if I landed safe."
Her voice cracked.
"I know about Alice. I saw the messages. The photos. And the worst part? I've been waiting for you to tell me. But you didn't. You just handed me tickets and let me go. Like I was nothing."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Was I nothing, Essie?"
She ended the call.
****
She opened her voice notes. Pressed record.
"I stood in your doorway. In the green silk. Ten minutes before you even looked at me. And when you finally did, you kissed my forehead. Like I wasn't a woman who still remembered what it felt like to be wanted."
Her voice shook.
"I wanted you to see me. I wanted you to hold me and tell me I was still the only one. But you didn't. You sent me away. And I let you. Because I don't know how to be anyone other than the woman who waits for you."
She laughed. Bitter. Tired.
"Now I'm in Bangkok. Alone. With a woman who hates me leaving notes under my door and another who wants to take everything I built. And you're not here."
Her voice cracked.
"I'm scared, Essie. I'm scared of who I'm becoming. I'm scared that a part of me will always love you. Even after everything."
She stopped the recording.
She didn't send it.
****
Her phone buzzed.
You think you're safe in Bangkok? I can reach you anywhere.
Enjoy your vacation. I'll be waiting when you get back.
Mara typed: You don't scare me.
I should.
She put the phone down.
She touched her necklace. The crescent moon. Cold against her fingers.
Little moon.
Someone was watching. Someone was waiting. Alice. Faye. The weight of everything she'd been running from.
She closed her eyes.
And for the first time in six days, she let herself admit the truth.
She was alone. She was scared. And she had no idea how to save herself.
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