Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

The last week had been amazing, and Lilith couldn’t believe how her life had turned around from where it had been two months ago. Now she had the freedom to do what she wanted, wear what she wanted, and be with the man she wanted.

It was as though her luck was finally turning around. She had an interview today with an organization that tended to the maintenance of The Wissner Botanical Gardens. The history of how the gardens came to be was fascinating, and Lilith was excited. The reason she’d gotten the job interview was because Ox from Alliez had provided security for a party being held there and had gotten talking to the director of the foundation, and found out that one of their grounds staff had left. Fate had opened a door for Lilith, and she planned to walk through it.

“You ready?” Julian asked as he came into the kitchen where she’d been standing, looking out at the garden.

“As I’ll ever be.” She smoothed a hand down the black pencil skirt she wore. She’d paired it with an emerald green blouse, which complimented her black hair, and made her eyes stand out. Cass had helped her purchase the items, and she was forever grateful for her friend.

“You look beautiful, Lil. You’re going to knock their socks off.” Julian pressed a kiss to her cheek. Even that slightest touch had desire burning through her. It seemed the more time they spent together, the more her feelings for him grew.

She believed herself to be in love with him, but seeing as she’d never experienced the emotion, she didn’t know if what she was feeling every time she saw him was that. There was still a part of her that didn’t trust herself, but today she would not think about it. “I hope so. I know I don’t have any real experience, but I want to learn. I know how to weed, and if that’s all they want me to do, then that’s what I’ll do.”

“Just be yourself. Tell them what you’ve done. How you maintained the gardens at The Hopeful Sunshine, and that what you grew fed a lot of people.”

“I’m not sure mentioning I was part of a cult is a good thing.” God, what would the person interviewing her think if she said that? Would they think she was gullible and stupid? “No, I won’t say that. I’ll just say I helped at a market garden or something.”

Julian grabbed both her hands, squeezing them lightly. “If they judge you for something your parents did, or for believing you were going to do something better, then they’re fools.”

“I hope you’re right,” she murmured, a hand going to her stomach to quell her swirling nerves. “I think we should go now.”

Julian was going to drive her to the location. He’d offered to wait, but she told him he needed to get to his job. He’d protested, and only agreed when she told him she’d give Cass a call when she’d finished so that the other woman could arrange for one of the guys from Alliez to take her home. She thought it was overkill, but if it meant that Julian wouldn’t be stressed or worried about her, then she could give him this one concession.

He had said nothing, but she knew there was another operation in the works. This time, if he went away with the team, she’d have something to keep occupied—that is, if she got the job.

“Have you got everything?” he asked.

Lilith picked up her bag and checked the contents. Her phone was in there, along with her wallet, some tissues, lipstick, and a comb. “Yep.”

“You’ve forgotten something,” he said and held up his hand where a delicate chain hung from his index finger—her tracker necklace.

“Oh, I didn’t think I needed to wear that, seeing as you knew where I was, and that someone from Alliez is picking me up.”

“Doesn’t matter. I need you to wear this always. Please. For me?” The desperate way he was almost pleading with her to wear it reinforced that he was working on something and it wasn’t nice.

“Sure. Can you put it on for me?” She turned and lifted her hair away. A second later, his fingers brushed the back of her neck as he did the secured the chain.

“Thank you,” he said as he kissed the spot his fingers had brushed.

Lilith turned in his arms and cupped his cheek. “I can tell something’s troubling you. And I know you can’t tell me. But know that I’m here for you.”

“I know, Lil.” He gave her a short kiss, but one full of passion before he stepped back. “Okay, let’s go get you this job.”

The drive was over quickly, and Lilith wished she had a little longer to get herself ready for the job. But even if she’d had another ten minutes, she’d still be as nervous. “I guess I should go in?” she said after sitting in the car for a full five minutes after Julian had killed the engine.

“Yes, you should, and remember, be yourself. They’ll love you. I know it.”

Like you do?

The words were on the tip of Lilith’s tongue, but she swallowed them down. In the grand scheme of things, they hadn’t only known each other properly for long. Although, the more she thought on it, the more she was convinced that what she felt for Julian was love.

“Thank you. I’ll call you when I’m done to let you know how it went.”

“And I’ll answer, even if I’m in a meeting,” Julian assured her.

“Don’t get into trouble by doing that. I’ll understand if you can’t.”

Julian reached out and hooked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I know. I’m proud of you, Lil.”

He kissed her, not giving her a chance to respond. By the time he backed away, her mind was mushy, but her nerves were gone. With one last look, she got out of the car and made her way into the building, glancing over her shoulder to see Julian still in the parking spot. She gave a wave, and then entered the large brick building. The air was cool, and the scent of fresh lilies filled the air.

Immediately, a sense of calmness washed over her. She was meant to be here. This was where she belonged, and she was going to make it happen.

There was a bounce in her step as she exited the front door of Julian’s house, as she prepared herself to walk to the grocery store a half a mile away. It wasn’t the first time she’d made the trek, and she wanted to get some groceries to prepare a special meal for her and Julian.

The interview had gone really well. The woman interviewing her had been warm, and when the truth of Lilith’s circumstances had come out—in the end, Lilith hadn’t been able to keep it quiet—she’d been understanding and sympathetic about her plight. There had been no judgment, and Lilith had been grateful for it. On the tour of one of the gardens, Lilith had noted a blight on one of the plants, and had pointed it out to the director. Immediately she’d summonsed the head groundskeeper, and when Lilith explained what she’d seen and offered a harmless remedy for it, it had cemented her interview, and the director had offered her the job. Her paperwork still needed to be sorted, but Lilith was slated to start in a week's time.

Julian had been thrilled when she’d called him. Deal had dropped her home, congratulating her as well on her employment.

“Oh my God, it’s you, Sister. Sister! I’m so glad to see you!”

Every drop of blood in Lilith chilled at hearing “sister” being called out. Maybe it was a woman who was calling her actual sister, but Lilith’s gut was telling her it wasn’t.

Determined to ignore the voice, even if it was rude, she hurried down the sidewalk. She’d made it three steps when a hand clamped on her arm.

“Sister, please don’t ignore me,” the woman begged, and the instinct to run died a little in Lilith. This woman had been as much a victim as Lilith had. She probably needed a friend.

Plastering a smile on her face, Lilith turned, prepared to reassure the woman that she was free and didn’t need to call her sister, before continuing on her way. The second she faced the woman, Lilith wished she hadn’t. “What do you want?” she asked, shaking her arm for the other woman to let her go.

She didn’t. If anything, she tightened her grip.

“I want to talk to you.” The smile she sent Lilith wasn’t reassuring. “I saw you and knew I had to talk to you. Apologize.”

Lilith doubted that. After all, this was the woman who’d ratted her out to Micah and had looked smug when he dragged to Staunton’s office the day everything imploded at The Hopeful Sunshine. “An apology is unnecessary. We all said and did things to survive.”

“Maybe, but still, I need to. Can we go somewhere and talk? I’m Stella, by the way. I’m so glad to not be a sister anymore.”

The last thing Lilith wanted to do was talk to the woman, particularly after what Stella had done to her. Then again, they’d both shared an awful experience. Perhaps Stella had done what she had to do to survive, just like Lilith had.

Even still, her instincts were warning her to stay away from the woman, and Lilith was going to listen to them. “I’m Lilith and I’d like to catch up, but I’m on my way to the store and I don’t have time. I’m sorry. I’m glad that you’re free to be you now.”

Stella’s face crumpled, and she let go of Lilith as she burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to cry. It’s just…I’m so lost and overwhelmed. I need help.”

Against her better judgment, Lilith pulled her into a hug. How could she turn her away when she’d been feeling the same way after she left Freedom and Love? The feeling of being lost in a city full of people. Did Stella even have a job? Or a home? While she had little resources, Lilith could lend an ear, and maybe she could call Julian while they talked and get to a shelter where she could get the help she needed. “Okay, there’s a café near the store I was going to. We can grab a drink there.”

In a flash, the tears were wiped away, and a sinister look entered her eyes. “Oh, I know the perfect place.”

Before Lilith had a chance to run, Stella grabbed her and dragged her toward a car that had just pulled up. Shock rendered her motionless, and as she was shoved through the door, she screamed for help. But the street was empty, and she had no idea if anyone in the nearby houses heard her or would even do anything if they had.

“Shut up, bitch.” Stella slapped her hard across the face. “Try that again, or attempt to get out, and you’ll regret it.”

Gone was the tearful woman, and in her place was the woman from The Hopeful Sunshine.

“What do you want?” Lilith asked, her cheek stinging from the slap as the car zoomed off down the street.

“You, of course.” The person in the passenger seat turned around and smiled at Lilith.

“Micah.” She spoke his name in a whisper, but his smile showed he’d heard it all the same.

Her heart thumped, and Lilith made a move to open the door, uncaring that she could die if she managed to get out. Anything was better than being back in the presence of this man. Her movement was thwarted as Stella grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked hard. Lilith bit back the scream of agony, as she was sure half her hair had been ripped out.

“I told you not to try anything.”

“That’s enough, Stella. Leave her. You’re going to be a good girl, aren’t you, Lilith?” Micah mocked, as if he knew victory was his.

Lilith nodded, but she would not be a victim this time. Somehow, some way, she wouldn’t be sucked into whatever Micah had planned for her. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be all roses and sunshine. Of that, she was sure.

Whatever she had to do, she would, even if it meant the consequences were going to be life altering.