Page 143 of Wicked Refusal

This time, there’s no fear in me as I walk into the courtroom. Only a strange sort of calm.

I listen as the judge speaks.

I listen as she bangs her gavel, her decision made.

I listen as my side breaks out in cheers.

And I listen as my heart finally—finally—starts beating again.

We won.

49

MIA

“To Mia!”

Glasses clink around the table, the festive atmosphere instantly infectious.

“To Eli,” I correct, laughing. “He’s the one we’re celebrating tonight.”

“We’re celebrating both of you,” Ginny protests. “You both won.”

It warms my heart—to hear her say that. To have my sister back. Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to forgive her, but fuck it. I’ve had it up to here with pointless grudges. It’s not the past that matters—it’s the future.

I raise my glass. “To family, then.”

“To family,” everyone else echoes.

We clink again. This time, it feels right.

If only Yulian were here, too.

I shake my head and push that thought out of my mind. When I called him to share the news, he was the one who insisted we start celebrating without him. He’ll join later if he can make it, he said. If not, we still have tomorrow night.

Tomorrow.My heart soars at the thought. After this, we’re going to have infinite tomorrows. No more Brad. No more courts.

Just us.

“Mommy, can I have your pepperoni?”

I smile and push my plate Eli’s way. If he asked me for the moon right now, I’d go grab it in a heartbeat. “Knock yourself out, kiddo.”

He happily digs into my slices. I watch him pry off each piece of pepperoni and pop them carelessly into his mouth. Sauce drizzles down his chin and sprays his Bluey t-shirt.

Without thinking, I pull him into a side hug.

“Mommy…?”

“I love you so much.” I kiss his curls and fight off the tears. “To the moon and back, and back, and back.”

He squishes his tomato-stained cheek against my dress. “I love you to the stars, Mommy.”

We stay like that for a while. My family gives us space, chatting amongst themselves and stealing heartfelt glances at the messy picture we make. We’ve got dismembered pizzas on our plates and sauce everywhere, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’ve risked so much. If I think about how badly this could have gone, the pizza in my stomach starts to feel like cement. Right now, Eli could have been handed over to Brad. He couldbe back in that house, being forced to eat food he doesn’t like, being drugged to sleep to keep him quiet. Could be crying for me, begging me to come get him, and I’d be powerless to do a single damn thing.

But it didn’t go that way. I saved him.Wesaved him. Yulian, Isaak, Nikita, Kallie, my family—everybody pitched in. Everybody.