All My Broken Pieces (FindingLight #2)

Chapter 22

Arriana

I can’t sleep.

Peering down at my beautiful girl, all I can think about is what’s about to happen. Things escalated quickly following our brief meeting earlier, Andrew’s worried update that sitting and waiting it out might not be possible after all came through shortly after we left.

I should run, that’s what Andrew suggested. Hell, even Killian pushed for the idea. Although I can’t help but wonder if part of his reasoning was to simply get me out of his life.

But I can’t do that, I won’t do that. Because I’m not leaving her, and I’m not dragging her away from everything and everyone she knows because of my mistake.

My phone buzzes on the nightstand. Carefully extracting myself from Fallon, I roll over and pull up the message.

Drewbie

The warrant has officially been issued.

You’ve gotta get out of here

Me

I can’t

Drewbie

Princess, please. I’ll clear this up but you

can’t be there when they come for you

I look at Fallon’s sleeping form, biting my lip.

If I’m not here, what happens to her?

I close my eyes, blowing out a heavy breath.

Me

I can’t do that to her.

You’ll figure it out

GIF of a man throwing finger guns

with the words “you got this”

Drewbie

*eye roll emoji* you’ve got too

much faith in me

Me

Not possible. You’re my hero,

remember? *winking emoji*

Drewbie

Can’t wait to say I told you so

Me

Whatever *eye roll emoji* *kissy face emoji*

I close my phone and set it back down, moving to cuddle Fallon once more.

We’ll figure it out.

I hold onto the thought as I close my eyes and will sleep to overtake me.

A loud pounding on the door pulls me from my sleep. I sit upright, my heart thundering in my chest.

Fuck, this is it.

Fallon mumbles in her sleep, throwing the comforter over her head to drown out the noise. Leaning over, I press a kiss to the top of her head before slipping out of the bed.

Quickly pulling on some clothes, I stop before Sir Ichabod’s cage. Gently lifting him up, I nuzzle his furry head. “My perfect little man.” I coo, running my fingers over his back. “Mamá loves you, be good for your other Mamma now.” His little squeaks as he chitters in response break my heart. “I’m going to miss you.” I whisper, my voice cracking as I kiss his head and set him back inside his little home.

The pounding on the door grows more insistent. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” I grumble, slipping from the room in search of a pen and paper. Walking into the spare room, my eyes land on Fallon’s journal.

Sorry, baby.

Snatching it up, I tear out a blank page and scrawl out quick a note. I set down her journal and quietly sneak back into our room to set the paper down beside Fallon on my empty pillow.

With one last forlorn look at my slumbering girl, I turn and make my way toward the front door. I unlock it, pulling open the door to reveal two uniformed officers waiting on the other side.

“Arriana Beckett?” One of them asks, a short, scruffy looking man with hardened features.

I nod my head, forcing back my shoulders. “Yeah, who’s asking?”

The other cop, an older woman with her hair tied up in a tight knot atop her head, pulls a pair of cuffs from her belt. “You’re under arrest-”

The rest of her words fade as she turns me around and cuffs my wrists. I can’t focus on her, my eyes landing on a horrified Fallon clutching the notepaper and watching the interaction from the shadows with tears flowing down her face.

She moves to take a step toward me, but I shake my head, hoping the two officers don’t notice her presence. Fallon freezes, lifting a hand to cover her mouth as her body shakes.

I’m sorry. I love you. I mouth to her, my heart shattering as I’m ripped away from my entire world.

The last thing I see is Fallon sinking to her knees, reaching a hand out to me.