Page 46 of The Games We Play (Balance of Power #3)

I steal a moment to take her in again, because Nathan and everything surrounding him is going to consume the next twenty-four hours once I tell her. She might know, although I don’t think she does, but her decision will affect us and what happens.

“So, what’s going on?” Her tone is as soft as the smile that still graces her face, as she tilts her chin toward my bag .

I decide I need to just spit it out. There is no easy way around this conversation.

“Nathan’s been granted a parole hearing…tomorrow.” Her face instantly falls.

She definitely didn’t know.

Her gaze drops to the ground and she’s deep in thought. Palming her forehead, she runs her fingers back over her hair, pulling it to one side as her eyes bounce back and forth between random spots.

“They didn’t call me. Shouldn’t they have called me?” Her gaze returns to mine before dropping again. “That doesn’t make any sense. My mother told me they denied his request for a hearing a few months ago. I don’t understand.”

She sits back on her butt and bends one knee, pulling the heel into her inner thigh, then extends the other leg and she leans forward. Her eyes are distant while she continues to talk to herself, as she robotically stretches.

“They denied him, but his attorney filed an appeal and the parole board accepted it.” Thanks to his attorney, aka brother-in-law, more than likely paying them off in some way.

“So, he’s been given a parole hearing. It’s just a hearing so it could turn into nothing and he stays in prison, right?”

“It could,” I reply. “But if he’s granted parole, he’ll be released in a few weeks, maybe sooner.”

Her brows pinch together and she looks out over the fog and beyond the span of her backyard.

I think this has always been a safe space for her.

The petite yard, surrounded by lush, green trees and the mist that drifts between the fence line and the grass have probably provided her the serenity she needs to feel secure, safe.

But she has me now.

She bites the inside of her cheek as she wraps her arms around herself, and I know her mind is trailing off .

I slip off the patio chair and kneel next to her on her mat, mirroring my arms around hers.

“Christian’s plane is waiting at the airport.

If you want to face him we can fly there today and show up tomorrow.

You have the right to share your story with the parole board, but if you don’t want to say anything, you can still go and just show your face, or stay here.

You are in full control of whatever you would like to do,” I tell her as I hover my mouth over the back of her neck, wanting to be as close to her as possible.

Nathan’s attorney clearly got this approved under the radar without informing anyone, so their plan is to get this hearing done, approved, and get him released without anyone being the wiser.

The prideful part of me wants to tell her that so she shows up and ruins that plan for him. Man, I’d love to see the look on his face when he sees her in the courtroom.

The protective part wants her to stay here so I can take care of him without her knowing any different.

“Maybe he’s changed. He was young, he had been drinking. Maybe he deserves a chance?”

What the hell? He sure the fuck does not.

I saw the pictures of what he did to her. He does not deserve clemency. Not from her, not from anyone. If Wes had not stepped in and stopped him, I have no doubt he would have killed her in that lake.

She glances over her shoulder to look back at me, but she’s not angry or upset. She wears a somber, yet hopeful look, like she’s dying to hold onto it.

I’ve always been a fucking chameleon when it comes to facial expressions. A professional at showing zero emotion and giving away nothing. But the insanity of her comment might as well be written in permanent marker all over my face.

“Okay, I know he doesn’t deserve it. But regardless, he’s going to be let back out into society, either now or in the next five years. So, I suppose that’s just my hope speaking for all the other women out there.” She turns back to overlook the yard again.

I had Rocco dig deeper into Nathan while we were waiting for Christian to confirm the details for the plane.

Rocco discovered multiple accounts during Nathan’s time in high school of girls filing complaints with the principal.

Even one of his female teachers brought his behavior to light, but all were swept under the rug.

Complaints of sexual assault and random acts of violence have followed him since he hit puberty. Those were silenced and went unpunished. So, no I don’t think this is a man who knows how to control himself while sober, and especially not while under the influence.

Mimi wraps her pointer and thumb around her wrist and looks down, deep in thought. She squeezes a few times before moving her grip up and popping her knuckles.

“I need to go. I want to go. They need to hear my story.”

That’s my girl.

She presses into her palms and I reluctantly release her as she stands.

Standing with her, I try my best to not seem protective and overbearing.

Turning, she cups my face and presses her soft lips to mine.

I lean down as I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her closer to me.

I hate how close I need her to be to me to feel like I’m doing what I was born to do.

Protect her, love her, revel in her forever.

I lean down and press my forehead to hers, breathing her in. The faint scent of lavender wraps around me like a warm blanket.

I knew she would want to go, and I want her to. She needs to tell her story, but this changes everything about what this mission is now.

What started out as a covert operation with Rocco and Miller to get rid of Nathan Simmons, is now a protective detail for Mimi, not just physically but mentally. And I’ve never been so uncertain about the outcome.