Chapter 24

FREYA

"Fuck!" I totally forgot. Standing outside her apartment, I remembered Fey was out of town—completely slipped my mind. She'd flown to Texas for a show. I'd known this.

I glanced at Gia, who peered up at me, probably waiting for me to act. How could I tell her how lost I felt? When I'd left the apartment with Gia, Aiden was the first person who came to mind. I quickly dismissed the thought and decided to go to Rey's place. She'd been our solace for years, but now…fuck! She wasn't here.

A hotel was always an option. I was about to get in the car, but another thought lingered: Aiden. My hand itched to reach for my phone. He wouldn't mind if I called, would he? Probably not, considering Gia was with me.

Before I could think twice, I dialed him. He answered on the second ring.

"Hello, love," Aiden's smooth, deep voice reached my ears. And suddenly, I felt stupid for calling.

"Hey, uhm… it's probably not a good time, but…" I swallowed, unable to continue. I couldn't do it. Maybe a motel would be better. "Actually, it's nothing. I'll call you—"

"Don't you dare hang up, Freya! I need you to tell me what's going on!" This was a stark contrast to his previous tone. He sounded serious, but there was something else—genuine concern, perhaps? Whatever it was, it broke through my carefully constructed control.

"I was thinking… maybe you could pick us up. Gia's with me, and I didn't know who else to call." My voice choked on the last few words.

A silent beat passed before he spoke. "Where are you?"

"Meringue. Well, not exactly, but it's just around the corner."

"I'll be there." He confirmed. And just like that, I knew he'd be there for us.

AIDEN

I'd hoped Freya would call, and she finally did. I smiled, picking up the phone, but the amusement vanished when I heard her voice.

"Hey, uhm… it's probably not a good time, but…" I had a bad feeling. "Actually, it's nothing. I'll call you—"

My chest tightened; whatever it was, couldn't be good. She fell silent for a second.

"Don't you dare hang up, Freya! I need you to tell me what's going on." I tried to keep my voice even, but the anxiety in my stomach made it difficult. Her silence was agonizing. Then, a shaky inhale.

"I was thinking maybe you could pick us up. Gia's with me, and I didn't know who else to call." She choked on her last words, and my dread intensified.

I grabbed my car keys and was already in the elevator. "Where are you?"

"Meringue," she whispered.

"I'll be there." I kept my voice calm, though I was anything but. I couldn't remember the last time anything had unsettled me so much. I usually kept my head in challenging situations.

This was different. A thousand possibilities flooded my mind. I was fucking worried and just hoped Freya and our daughter were safe until I reached them.

I disregarded speed limits and safety rules as I drove to her cafe. Turning the corner, I saw them—sitting on a bench outside.

The street was almost empty, and I flinched at the potential dangers they'd been exposed to. Gia was huddled close to Freya; both seemed safe.

But the relief vanished with every step I took toward them. My shoulders stiffened as I saw Freya more clearly.

Blood stained the side of her head. She was injured. My pulse quickened.

They both noticed me. Gia pulled away from Freya and came to me. I picked her up, checking for injuries. She was unharmed. Relief was fleeting. My eyes darted back to Freya. She had a nasty cut on her forehead.

I'm not squeamish about blood, but seeing Freya hurt churned my stomach. My heart ached, wondering what had happened.

"Who did this?" I fought to control my rage, but some of it likely leaked through. Gia tightened her grip around my neck and sniffed into my shoulder—the sound hit me hard.

I suspected who it was. I just needed to…

Freya stared at me, lips pressed together, fighting back tears. Her silence was answer enough.

"See?" I muttered, trying to focus beyond the murderous rage. "Let's get you to the hospital."

She stared at my outstretched hand before taking it. I guided her to the passenger side of my car. She sat in my lap—I hadn't remembered the car seat in my rush—with Gia on her lap.

She sighed in relief when I turned on the heater. My mind was plagued with questions—what happened? How long had they been sitting there in the cold?—but I restrained myself. Later. I promised myself.

(The final lines "Comment AD Ha Adu 7:30 PM Cr" are unclear and seem unrelated to the story and have been omitted.)