Page 46 of Keeping Lilith
“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 hiscareer 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.
Chapter Twenty-Two