Page 127 of Beautiful Chances
“Can you hear me?” Mia murmurs as she strokes Lila’s cheek.
I’m so focused on the two women that I don’t notice Steve until he taps me on the shoulder, holding his phone out to me so I can read what he’s written.
Martin won’t be helping with cleanup. You need to do that yourself, but I’ll help. There’s a doctor waiting at the hospital for Alec, but that’s all the help my boss offered.
Even though it’s fair, Martin has done more than enough, my hands still tremble with pent-up anger. Of all the times, this is the worst possible timing to be on our own. I grit my teeth and force my hands to relax. “Okay, thanks for letting me know.” I hate how clipped my tone sounds. Steve doesn’t deserve my ire. He’s been through hell himself, and despite that, he’s willing to help.
“Kas, come here, please,” Mia calls out, and I hurry closer to where she’s sitting with Lila’s head in her lap.
Even though Lila’s eyes are open, I get the sense she’s seeing nothing. She has that kind of blank stare, making me think something is irrevocably broken inside her.
“You have to help me convince her she needs help.” Tears stream down Mia’s face as she looks at me, her eyes begging for my help. “She won’t… Lila says… Fuck! Kas, she’s refusing help. She says she wants to die.”
Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose before I push my glasses further up. The words needed to back Mia up are at the tip of my tongue, but I can’t force them out. No matter how much I want Lila to fight, it’s not my choice to make. And if she wants to give up, can I—or anyone—really blame her?
It’s not just the brutality she’s been through at Luis’ hands. I suspect everything is catching up with her. Being married to Neil, having him turn his back on her and abuse her frequently. Living a life of being second best to Mia, and, yeah, having to help Mia—the woman she’d grown to hate… It’s a fucking lot.
“I can’t, sweets,” I whisper, cringing when she looks at me like I’ve betrayed her. “It’s not up to you or me to decide. Lila has been through a lot, and I can’t tell her to keep fighting. She needs to want it.”
Mia’s gaze softens as she shakes her head. “Is it selfish for me to want you to live?” she asks, while stroking Lila’s hair. “Maybe it is. Kas is right, though. This is your life. You live it or end it on your own terms. Just… Please let me help you. Tell me how I can help.”
For several heartbeats, there’s nothing but the howls from the wind. Then Lila clasps Mia’s hand. “Move me next to him and give me your gun,” she croaks, her voice so weak it’s hard to hear her. “Let the truth and the blame die with me.”
Mia’s face is etched in an anguished and stubborn expression as she says, “No!” and shakes her head vehemently.
“It’s for the best,” Lila coaxes, fighting to sit up. “This isn’t for you, it’s for me. I’m dying anyway, Mia. If you really want to help me, let me go out in a blaze of glory. Let me do this for me, so I feel my life wasn’t a complete waste.”
After my girl reluctantly agrees, I carefully lift Lila over to Luis’ body, hating him for getting so close to her one more time. Handing Lila the gun, Mia helps her angle it and pull the trigger, each shot making Luis’ body jerk from the impact. I take the gun from them, carefully wiping it on my shirt before wrapping the fabric around the handle, so no prints are left behind.
“Thank you, Lila.” I stroke her head gently as I crouch down. “I won’t tell you what to do, but I am sorry you won’t be around anymore. Despite everything, I do like you.” Even though my words sound too formal and stiff, I find I mean them.
The truth is that none of us are innocent. We all have twisted morals, if any—and we’re all prepared to play dirty. Maybe Lila was out of line when I had my amnesia, but I have already forgiven her. I can’t say when I did so. All I know is that I don’t hold a grudge, and I will miss her.
“Rest now. Thank you for everything, Lila.”
I wrap my arm around Mia’s shoulders, turning our backs on Lila and leading us over to Steve. As soon as we reach him, he thrusts his phone out with another message.
Get Mia out of here. I’ll take care of the scene!
I try to protest, “But—” That’s all I manage before Steve shakes his head and taps furiously at the phone.
She doesn’t need to see what I have to do. Go to the hospital. I’ll be in touch later.
“I want to help so you don’t have to do this alone,” Mia interjects, but Steve shakes his head again. Then, to my surprise, she lets go of me and hugs him. “Thank you for everything. I promise I’ll find a way to repay you.”
Letting go of Mia, Steve points at both cars and shakes his head. Yeah, I already figured we would have to walk away. “Let’s go,” I whisper as I pull Mia to my side again. “Lila has to be in pain, and we shouldn’t let her hurt more than she has to.” Mia nestles into my side, and we turn our backs on the two people who never had any reason to help us, yet they’ve proven to be the biggest heroes of our time.
After fifty steps, we hear a gun being fired once, twice. With each shot, Mia whimpers and falters, but she doesn’t stop walking.
