Page 81 of Wicked Empire (Knight's Ridge Empire 3)

I’m not a hugger; I never have been. But the second she returns my embrace, I realize that I never want to let go.

“Oh my God,” I whimper, barely holding myself together as she trembles.

I have no idea how much time passes as we stand there, but when she pulls back and takes my tear-soaked cheeks in her hands, I know it wasn’t long enough at all.

“My baby,” she whispers, her voice full of awe as if she can’t believe I’m actually standing here before her. “You’re so b-beautiful. I’ve seen photographs but…” She shakes her head. “I’m so sorry.”

She crumbles before me and I pull her into my arms once more as I sense both Dad and Toby take a step closer to us.

I look up at my brother over her shoulder and hold his concerned stare. His eyes are full of unshed tears, which doesn’t do anything for my unsteady emotions.

‘It’s okay,’ I mouth to him. ‘I’ve got her.’

He gives me a lopsided smile as I gently lower our mom to the bench.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here,” she says, taking my hand in her cool one and holding it tight.

“Tell me about it,” I mutter, but there’s no malice in it.

“I’m sor—” she tries again, but I cut her off.

“I don’t need your apologies. We don’t need to rehash the past,” I say, similar to what I said to my dad not so long ago. “It’s too painful, for everyone.”

She nods, her bottom lip trembling.

I look over her features. Her skin is pale, her eyes are dark, showing her exhaustion from her treatment, and she’s wearing a hat with a huge pink fluffy bobble on the top which makes me smile, and a thick winter coat. But despite all the treatment she’s been through, she still looks gorgeous. I can totally see why my dad fell head over heels for her all those years ago.

“We’re going to get through all of this,” I promise her.

“She’s right,” Dad confirms, coming to stand behind us and placing his hands on both of our shoulders.

Maria lifts her free hand and holds his. The look that passes between the two of them is pure, unfiltered love. It gives me the final push I need to ensure that we all come out of this and that they get the time together that they deserve.

Lifting my arm, I gesture for Toby to come and join us.

Maria and I have time to properly get to know each other—I hope—but right now, we just need to be together.

Toby takes my hand and squishes in beside me.

Maria sobs as she looks between the two of us.

“I’ve made so many mistakes in my life,” she tells us. “But I’ve never regretted having either of you. I just wish I could have been the mum you both deserved.”

“Mum, no,” Toby says, his voice cracking with emotion. “None of this is on you. It’s him,” he spits. “And he’s going to get what’s coming to him.”

Maria nods. “It’s time. Nothing he has over us is more important than this.” She squeezes my hand. “I want my family. My babies.” She looks up at my dad once more. “You,” she whispers.

We spend almost an hour sitting by that lake, talking about nothing of any significance. We avoid all the heavy subjects of our reality as Maria and I get to know each other a little.

It’s utterly surreal.

And when a woman—Penny, I assume—appears through the trees to see how her sister is holding up and I get a look at Maria, I know our time is coming to an end. She’s still in the middle of treatment and recovering from surgery.

“I’m not ready,” she tells us all, holding my hand tighter.

“You need to rest,” I tell her softly. “But this isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning. We need you strong, yeah? Because we’re going to win.”

Tears drop once more as she sighs, “Oh, Galen. You raised me the most perfect daughter.”