Chapter 8 - Marissa’s Return
The crisp autumn air of Arlington hit my face as I stepped out of the arrivals terminal.
Waiting by a sleek black SUV parked in the restricted pickup zone was Reid Langford. He wore a charcoal wool coat, his dark hair ruffled slightly by the wind, looking every bit the federal agent and yet entirely approachable.
When he saw me walking toward him, he pushed off the side of the vehicle and walked over, taking my carry-on bag from my hand with effortless grace.
“Welcome back to the states, Marissa,” Reid said, his dark eyes warm and steady.
“It’s good to be back,” I breathed, looking up at him. “Though I never expected my homecoming to involve federal indictments and tactical breach teams.”
Reid chuckled, opening the passenger door for me. “Well, your family certainly knows how to make an entrance. Come on, let’s get you settled. You’re staying at my place tonight—the guest suite, obviously. The penthouse is still technically an active crime scene, though forensics wrapped up their sweep this morning.”
As we drove into the city, the silence between us wasn't awkward; it was comfortable, grounding, and safe.
That evening, sitting at Reid’s kitchen island with a steaming cup of coffee, my phone finally buzzed.
It was an unknown number, but I knew instantly who it was.
My mother.
I stared at the screen as it vibrated against the marble countertop. For a long moment, my thumb hovered over the decline button, the decades-old conditioning whispering that I should answer, that I should listen to her crying, that I needed to fix things.
Reid noticed my hesitation. He reached across the counter, gently placing his hand over mine. His touch was warm, firm, and grounding.
“You don't have to answer that, Marissa,” Reid said quietly. “You don't owe them another second of your life.”
I looked from Reid’s hand up to his eyes. The fog of obligation that had clouded my judgment for thirty years suddenly evaporated into thin air.
I picked up the phone, tapped Block Number, and then selected Delete Contact.
The screen went dark.
May you like
I looked at Reid, letting out a breath I felt like I had been holding since childhood. “Done.”
A slow, brilliant smile spread across Reid’s face. “Good. Now... let’s talk about dinner. My treat.”
