Chapter 21

Chapter Twenty-One

It had been the longest three days, and Lilith was going out of her mind with boredom. The job hunting hadn’t been successful. Well, after finding that one particular ad, she’d been reluctant to go onto that website again.

As promised, Julian had given the link to his colleagues at the FBI. With him being away, she didn’t know what was happening with it. If they were even looking into it or had just written it off as not worth their time.

Maybe she should call Cass about it. Julian hadn’t said that he was going to ask her to look over it, but it couldn’t hurt. There was nothing stopping her from getting a ride to Alliez’s office. She still wasn’t confident driving around LA. There was too much traffic for her. Then again, like anything, if she did it more, then it wouldn’t be so daunting. Not today, though. Perhaps when Julian was back. The idea of contacting Cass, though, wasn’t letting up, so she picked up her cell phone and pulled up Cass’s contact.

“Hey, Lilith, you okay? Is something wrong?”

Lilith sighed at Cass’s immediate response. “I’m fine, but why did you think the only reason I was calling was because I needed help?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I guess it’s because everyone is away that I’m extra jumpy for whatever reason.”

It wasn’t difficult to hear the worry in Cass’s voice, and Lilith felt bad for pointing out what she had. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, it’s fine. And you totally should say if something or someone upsets you. How are you doing anyway? Any luck on the job front?”

Here was the opening she needed to explain what she’d found. “Not really. I haven’t looked in the last couple of days. Umm, did Julian mention anything to you?”

“Are you talking about the job listing you found?”

Relief swept through her. Julian had said something, even though he hadn’t said he would. As far as she knew, he was only going to tell his colleagues, but she’d hoped he would at least mention it to Cass. “Yes, I am.”

“Seeing that must have brought up a lot of memories for you. After you told me about how The Hopeful Sunshine had recruited you, I did a quick look on some job sites, but nothing stood out. Having looked at the ad you saw, I would’ve totally skipped it as irrelevant. Or thought it was a bit too good to be true. What about it stood out to you?”

“Some phrases in the ad were the same as the flyer I’d found at work. This ad said new adventures, whereas the one that got me said new career paths were available.”

In the background came the tap tap of the keyboard—Cass working her magic. “Are you doing anything right now?” Cass asked.

“Not really.”

“Can you come to the office? I want to see if you can help me as I look deeper into it.”

“Yes. That’s really the reason I was calling you. I wanted to talk about this. I was going to explain it all, but that’s not necessary now.”

“Yeah, Julian bcc’d me into the email he sent to the tech guys at the FBI. If they were any good, they would’ve worked out he’d done it, but they don’t tend to look deep—even though they should.”

“Unlike you, who does all that, I’m guessing?”

Cass laughed. “Of course, I’ve worked for the government. I know how they operate. Anyway, that was a lifetime ago. Do you need me to come and get you?”

“No, it’s all good. I’ll call for a ride.”

“Seriously, it’s not an issue. I can come get you.”

“Cass, thank you, but no. By the time you get here, I could be at the office helping you. Trust me, it will be quicker this way.” Lilith knew what would tip Cass over into letting her make her own way to downtown LA. “I’m wearing my necklace.”

Lilith didn’t think she need to elaborate on what necklace she was wearing. Cass would get the message.

“Right. That’s good. I’ll see you soon then. Text me when you get in the car.”

“Will do. See you soon.”

The call ended, and Lilith tossed the phone on the couch beside her, glad she’d made the call. Getting out of the house was just what she needed and being able to help Cass was going to make her feel useful. Worthwhile.

Initially, the idea of working in an office hadn’t appealed, but that could’ve been because she hadn’t done it before. Hadn’t thought she had the skills. Not that she had excellent computer skills now, but there were other things she could do.

Although the idea of being cooped up and not getting fresh air didn’t appeal. Then again, jobs working in gardens weren’t exactly falling from the sky, so perhaps it was time to pivot. Get something that would give her some income, and then she could find her dream job in a couple of years.

Lilith pondered her possible career path all the way to Alliez’s offices, not really coming up with a solution at all. It wasn’t something she needed to decide now. Tomorrow, her perfect job could appear, and then she wouldn’t have to pivot at all.

Sighing, she got out of the car and headed for the building, not really surprised when she spied Cass waiting for her in the foyer.

“Hey,” she said as she walked up to the other woman, who pulled her close for a hug.

“Hey, yourself. You’re looking good, Lilith.”

Warmth flooded her cheeks at the compliment. In just the short time she’d been living with Julian, she’d gained some weight and didn’t look like she could be pushed over in a stiff breeze. “Thanks. Amazing what three regular meals will do for a person. I feel better within myself too.”

They headed toward the bank of elevators. Cass swiped a card across a reader, and the doors opened. “I may or may not have programmed this elevator to only be available to the employees of Alliez,” she murmured as she pressed the button for their floor.

“You amaze me. I feel so inadequate next to you.”

“Oh no, please don’t. We all have our own special skills. Like there’s no way I can keep a plant alive, but in the short time you were at our place, you managed to bring back the ones that I’d almost killed back to life.”

Lilith hadn’t done much with the plants. Just pruned them back and gave them water and some organic fertilizer she’d asked Irish to get. “I’m sure you or Irish would’ve been able to fix them. I just had the time to do it.”

Cass laughed as the doors opened. “Trust me when I say you are so wrong about that. I think those were about the fourth plants we’d put there. But you did inspire Irish to look after them now. Seeing him work in the garden, with his shirt off, sweat glistening in the sunshine, is something I’ll be forever grateful to you for.” She fanned her face.

“I’m sure it is,” she murmured, her own mind filling with seeing Julian without his shirt. That was a step they still hadn’t taken, but Lilith hoped they would when he returned from his trip.

Lilith smiled at Yolanda who was on the phone. Yolanda waved back. The office was quieter than the other time she’d been there, but that could be because most of the guys were away. “Is everyone on this trip?” she asked.

“Ox and Angel are here, but that’s because Ox doesn’t like to be too far away from Oscar and Eveline yet. Angelica, Teresa and Angel’s daughter, has an ear infection, so he wanted to be home with her.”

A baby’s wail filled the air, and everything in Lilith stilled. She’d never thought about having her own kids, hadn’t allowed herself to think it could be possible for her, but hearing the cry, a part of her wanted to rush to wherever they were and comfort them. “Who is that?”

Cass nodded. “I think that’s Angelica’s cry. Everyone’s here, Astrid, Eveline, and Teresa. Which is another reason I asked if you could come to the office. You haven’t met them, and I thought it was time you did.”

“You did? Why?”

“I’m guessing that you haven’t kept in touch with any of the other women from either place you lived. Not only because when you were freed you all didn’t have phones or anything, but also because sometimes it’s easier to make a break completely from the past so you can move forward.”

Cass’s insight was correct. Even if she’d could stay in touch with the women she’d been around, she wouldn’t have. “I didn’t have any friends in either place, particularly The Hopeful Sunshine. From the moment I arrived, all the women kept their distance from me, and to be honest, I was kind of glad. There was one woman, though. I don’t know her name, seeing as we all had to call each other sister. She didn’t like me. The day of the raid, she got me in trouble, accusing me of ripping out the healthy plants when all I was doing was pruning them.”

“I guess some women can be bitches wherever they are.”

“For sure. But I’d like to meet them all. Julian showed me Astrid’s show. She even gave me the belief I can cook anything.”

Cass laughed. “She has that effect for sure. I haven’t quite mastered the prettiness she achieves with her dishes, but I have made them and they are tasty.”

“Maybe I should try it when Julian gets home.” The idea of cooking for Julian didn’t freak her out like she thought it might. He wasn’t demanding she cook for him. She was thinking about doing it for him. The way it should be in relationships. He kept telling her he didn’t have any power over her, and she was slowly beginning to believe it.

“He’d love it. Come on, I’m guessing Angel has his daughter. She usually settles quickly with him.”

Lilith hadn’t even noticed the baby had stopped crying. A brief wave of nervousness washed over her, but she pushed it aside. She had nothing to worry about. These three women would not treat her like filth. There was no way Cass would expose her to that.

“Angel Donatello, give me that beautiful girl,” Cass demanded with a big smile as she walked into the conference room. Lilith was surprised when a tall, dark-haired man smirked at Cass. He gave his daughter a kiss on the head before handing her over to Cass.

“You always ask so nicely. Besides, Angelica loves her Aunt Cass.” He then came to where Lilith stood, still in the doorway of the large conference room. “Hey, Lilith, good to see you. Come meet the love of my life.”

She’d briefly met Angel the time she’d come in and helped Cass, but he was acting as if she’d known him a lot longer. Lilith liked that. Liked how she was included and not treated like an outsider. Would his wife treat her the same way?

Lilith followed and soon stood in front of a beautiful woman who was smiling indulgently up at her husband. The love between the two of them was so strong she could almost touch it. Ox stood, his hand on the shoulder of a dark-haired woman holding a chubby baby, the same look on his face.

There was so much love in the room that it was difficult for her to understand. She’d been in a room with couples before, but none of them acted the way these four people were. It was almost like they didn’t want to be away from each other.

Sitting by herself was Astrid Conway. Lilith recognized her from her tv show. She looked happy and content as well, even if her husband wasn’t standing near her.

Introductions were made, and Lilith sat between Teresa and Eveline, with Astrid opposite them. Ox and Angel, after giving their wives kisses, left them alone. Cass was still holding Angel, swaying and humming as the little girl drifted off to sleep in her arms.

“How are you doing with Julian away?” Eveline asked.

“I’m doing okay. Even though I lived by myself at The Hopeful Sunshine, I wasn’t totally alone. There were always people around. It’s just been me these last three days, and it’s been different.”

“Good different or bad different?” Teresa asked.

“Both? I mean, I have electricity and running water, which I didn’t have in my hut. I also have a soft bed and I know I’m safe there, but it’s also not my place. It’s Julian’s, so I feel like an interloper.”

“Trust me, he wouldn’t want you to feel that way. In fact, he’d probably be upset if he knew that was what you were thinking,” Cass said, as she sat down with the baby.

“I know. It’s just how I’m feeling.” Lilith tried not to feel offended by Cass’s words, but she was a little.

As if Cass knew she’d offended her, she grabbed Lilith’s hand where it rested on the table and gave it a squeeze. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. That came out more like a criticism than what I was trying to get across. I just meant that he would want you to make his house your home while he was away.”

Was she being too sensitive and seeing offense in everything people said because that was all she was used to hearing? It was possible, and maybe she needed to take a moment to take it all in before reacting. “I need to say sorry too. I’m still getting used to knowing that not everything everyone says to me is said in anger or judgement.”

“It’s all good,” Cass said, smiling reassuringly.

Was it, though? Lilith hoped it was because these women were a part of Julian’s life. He associated with their husbands a lot, and she was sure there would be times when they got together socially. If, and that was a big if, things progressed with her and Julian’s relationship, then she would be invited to them as his partner. For so long, she’d always been an outsider, and she didn’t want that anymore. She wanted to be part of a group, and the women in the room were all friends with each other. She could see the way they interacted with one another.

“Did you all know each other before you got together with your husbands or not?” she asked, attempting to change the focus off her.

Astrid laughed. “Nope. I met Callum, or Growler, as he’s known to the guys, when my PR person insisted I needed a bodyguard after I heard a murder.”

“You heard a murder?” Lilith wasn’t sure how that could be possible.

“Yeah, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Or the right place,” Eveline piped up. “You know, since it led to you meeting the love of your life.”

Astrid’s smile softened, and Lilith knew she was thinking about her husband. “I suppose, although there’s plenty I’d have rather not gone through, like being kidnapped, to end up with Callum.”

“Wait!” Lilith held up her hand. “You were kidnapped?”

“We all were, except for Cass. Irish was the one who was kidnapped by her uncle. He was a drug lord in Mexico,” Teresa explained. “We all got caught up in the Ramirez Cartel one way or another.”

Lilith’s mind whirled. Looking at the women in front of her, she never would’ve thought they’d been kidnapped. They looked so calm as they talked about it. “I don’t know what to say, except I’m sorry you had to go through it. How did it happen? Are you safe now from this drug lord?”

She was still processing the fact that Cass’s uncle had taken Irish. It didn’t seem possible that the tough man could be abducted.

“Yes, my uncle is dead. The story is long, but if it helps turn a negative experience into a positive one, I don’t have a problem discussing it.” Cass looked at the other women. “Are you okay talking about it?”

Astrid, Eveline, and Teresa all nodded, and Lilith realized what they were doing. They were including her in their group. Her trauma may have been different, but she’d survived like they had.

As their stories unfolded, Lilith’s admiration for the women grew, especially when she heard what Cass had gone through from a young age. “And this Isaac guy willingly jeopardized his career for you all? That’s amazing. Do you still keep in touch with him?” Lilith asked. She hadn’t met Isaac, nor had Julian talked about him when he talked about who was going on this trip.

“We haven’t seen or heard from Isaac for over a year,” Cass said softly. “After he woke from his coma, the DEA determined he needed to keep a low profile and disappear until the heat died down after the Ramirez takedown. The cartel was one of the largest in Mexico. The power struggle to take it over is real, but from what I’ve been able to find out, no one connected to the Ramirez family is in charge. It’s now known as the Lagos Cartel. So we are all safe from it. I’m hoping that includes Isaac.”

“Do you think he’ll come back?” Eveline asked.

Cass shrugged. “I don’t know. He seems settled after all this time.”

“You know where he is, don’t you?” Teresa pointed a finger at Cass.

Lilith watched the byplay with interest. There was no animosity or annoyance in what anyone was saying. They were friends talking, something she hadn’t experienced too often. She liked being a part of it.

Cass motioned zipping her lips and throwing away the key, and the other women laughed.

“At least you can make sure that he’s safe, unlike the others in the DEA. I’m sure they’ve forgotten about him. But I hope, when he can, he comes and sees us,” Astrid said.

“Me too,” Cass murmured.

“I think I’d like to meet him too. He sounds like a good guy.” Lilith smiled at the group. “I mean, the reason you’re all here is because of him. I’d like to thank him for saving you all so that I could get to know you.”

It may sound cheesy or insincere, but Lilith meant every word. She was glad that she was getting to know these women. Her life was finally coming together. She was making friends. Now all she needed was for Julian to come home to her.