Chapter 20

Kaitlyn’s POV

I stare at the sink in front of me, unable to move as the blood stained water runs down the sink. Tonight has brought back memories I’ve buried deep inside, locking them away in a dark corner in my mind where I hoped they would lose their truth. But it’s real, it happened. And tonight was a very big reminder of that.

The gunshots in the building felt like reliving that moment a hundred times. Watching the bullet go through her head, causing her to fall to the ground. The ground which was soon stained red due to her blood. I was stuck in that room for 5 hours. 5 hours with her lifeless body as they tortured me for answers I didn’t even have.

It should’ve been me. I should’ve died that night, not her. I wish they had just killed me that night so I wouldn’t have to live with the burden of waking up everyday. I shake my head to try and get rid of these thoughts. I can’t go through this again, I already got better.

A knock erupts from the door as I try to compose myself. My hands were still kind of red, remnants of blood still on them. “Prescott?” Mia knocks again.

I open the door and am met with Mia who now has new clothes on, the blood on her face no longer there. “Here, you should get changed.” She hands me a hoodie along with some shorts which I’m guessing is hers. I slowly took it away from her hands.

“There’s a shower in there if you need it.” She gestures towards the bathroom. “We land in like 4 hours so take your time” She gives me a small smile. “Thank you.” I nod and give her a small smile as well.

I shut the door behind me and start getting out of my clothes. I get in the shower and start cleaning the remaining blood off my body. Blood that isn’t even mine. Why can’t it be mine for once? I stay in the shower even after all the blood is off my body. I close my eyes and stand there frozen as I let the water hit my skin. Who was I kidding thinking I’m ready for something like this?

After a while, I step out of the shower. I have no idea how long I was in there for. Mia’s scent fills my senses as I put on her clothes. It smelled like vanilla mixed with a faint, bitter trace of cigarette smoke. I head out of the bathroom and make my way to where Mia was. She was seated in one of the club seats and I decided to sit in front of her.

She was looking down on her fists, opening and closing them. As I sat down in front of her, she snapped her attention to me. “Feeling better?”

“Yeah, better.” I nod in response as I fidget with my hands. I definitely wasn’t better, if anything I felt worse. She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. The space between us is not too much now.

“Did they hurt you?” Her voice was soft, but her expression was dangerously dark. She looked deep in my eyes, keeping me in place.

“No, they didn’t.” I shook my head, my eyebrows furrowing the slightest bit. She probably thinks something happened because of the blood on my clothes.

“Kaitlyn,” She tilts her head, still looking into my eyes. “I need to know if someone hurt you.” She says slowly. The way she said it makes it sound like she’s ready to kill whoever it was who hurt me. I shook my head once more, “No, no one hurt me. I slipped and fell into the pool of…” I trail off, unable to say the word.

Mia’s darkened expression falters just the slightest bit. “Blood?” She finishes for me. I give her a small nod in return. She lets out a breath and leans back into her chair. She stayed silent for a few moments, but her eyes remained on me.

“I’m sorry for not listening to you, I should’ve stayed in the car.” I hate having to apologize but I had to. If I had just listened and stayed then none of this would’ve happened. I was just doing my job going into that building and it almost got both of us killed.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. “Why didn’t you?” How am I supposed to tell the woman who practically saved my life that I got out of that car to gather evidence to arrest her. Evidence I didn’t even get.

I opened my mouth to say something, but thankfully was interrupted by a phone call on Mia’s end. She looks at her phone before sliding her thumb across the screen to answer it. She stood up from where she was seated and went into a room.

After a few hours, we finally landed. It was still dark outside since it was around 4am. Mia had a car waiting for us. We both got in the back seat as the driver started driving.

I felt sick to my stomach, I felt like I had to throw up. I hated this feeling. I went to therapy to get rid of these stupid feelings, this heavy weight on my heart. I look out the window and see the city as we drive by. At least I’m home now.

“I’m taking us to my place. You’ll be staying there indefinitely.” Her words cause me to snap my head in her direction. I furrow my brows in disbelief. I’d be ecstatic if I was still willing to do my job, but no. I don’t want to do this anymore. I just want out.

“Mia, I won’t tell anyone about anything that happened, I swear.” She shakes her head immediately, not even thinking about it. “You’re staying with me.” Her voice holds that finality that leaves no room for arguments.

I let out a scoff and looked out the window. I know she just saved my life and all but at this point she’s keeping me hostage in her own home. “It’s not safe.”

“Not safe?” I ask in disbelief. She’s just making excuses to keep me around at this point. “Yes, it’s–” She struggles to find the words. I’m telling you, it’s just excuse after excuse. “The police officer saw us. You punched him in the face for fuck sake. Even if we’re on a whole different continent they can still track you down.” That seems pretty fair. If any one of our people in the station were assaulted or hurt in the slightest, we’d be on that case right away.

I decide not to argue further since I’ll end up in her house regardless. I’ll just have to find a way to reach Quinn from there I guess.

We arrive at her place which is of course massive. It was another mansion, but this one only had two floors. It was still huge though. There was a staircase leading upstairs, the living room area had a fireplace underneath the TV. This place definitely felt more like a home.

“I’ll show you to your room.” Mia says as she heads upstairs and I follow after her. There were a lot of rooms on the second floor. You’d think she had an Airbnb because of how many rooms there were.

She opens the door to one of the rooms and she gestures for me to go in first. “This is your room for the time being, the bathroom’s over there.” I step into the bedroom but Mia stays by the doorframe. I look around a bit more before settling myself on the edge of the bed.

“Thank you, Mia.” I say softly. I truly meant it though. If it weren’t for her I’d be dead by now. She didn’t have to go back for me but she did. She could’ve died in there just as much as I could have, yet she still risked going back for me.

She nods and hesitates for a moment. “Listen, if you ever need anything just tell me.” She stood there awkwardly, hands in her pockets as she was nervous. “My room’s at the end of the hall” She didn’t even wait for my response, she left right after saying that.

I lay down in bed as I stare at the ceiling. I let out a deep breath. Today’s been a long day. A lot is on my mind. For one, Mia’s actually letting me stay in her home, again. All because she says it isn’t safe, but for me or for her? I guess for the both of us, but it’s weird seeing her care.

The look she gave me when she found me. She looked so worried. And the way she’s been acting towards me ever since we were on her private jet? I never knew she was capable of treating anyone like that. I guess she isn’t as bad as I thought.