Briar Valley: The Complete Duet

31. Willow

CHAPTER 31

WILLOW

HAPPY NEVER AFTER – VIOLA

After squirting the gel onto my belly, Doc lifts the wand to my skin and begins to move it around.

I lay back on the examination table and try not to feel nervous. It’s just a six-month checkup. Nothing to worry about.

“How have the past few weeks been?” he asks.

“Good. My back’s a little sore, but I’m mostly tired.”

“That’s to be expected at this stage.”

“I felt the same with Arianna around six months pregnant.”

Doc studies the sonogram equipment. “And what about your stress levels? I know that the recent arrests have been difficult for you. It’s important that you’re trying to rest and keep healthy.”

“I’m doing okay, Doc. Really.”

He summons a smile. “Good.”

The past few weeks have passed in a blur with Arianna’s recent eighth birthday and the case moving at a million miles an hour. We needed some time to decompress.

Almost half a dozen players in Sanchez’s trafficking ring have been arrested and charged. I’ve never heard Ethan sound so happy, now that he finally has results for all their hard work.

With the investigation in full swing and arrests being made, my role has been smaller, aside from regular updates and continued security protection.

It’s given me some time to rest and catch up with all the changes in our lives. Things have changed so drastically, I’ve needed a moment just to catch my breath and exist.

“Here we are, then.”

Turning my attention to the black and white screen, my eyes prickle with tears. The baby is less of an amorphous blob on the screen and now a small, miniature human, nestled in grey matter.

“Is it healthy?”

“All looking perfect,” Doc confirms. “Sure you don’t want to know the gender?”

“No, we still want it to be a surprise.”

He grins at me. “Oh, it will be. I’ll give you a moment.”

Flooded with excitement, I lift a hand to stroke my fingers over the greyscale image. “Hey, baby. We’re so excited to meet you soon.”

After leaving me alone with the baby for a few seconds, Doc wipes the gel from my belly then gently pulls my loose t-shirt down. I wipe under my eyes to clear the few tears that escaped.

“Have you thought much about the birth?”

“Hmm?”

He gives me a pointed look. “It’s only a few months away, Willow. We should discuss what arrangements you’d like to be made. I’ve facilitated several home births in Briar Valley before.”

“Oh. I’m not so sure.”

“That’s understandable after Arianna’s birth, but you won’t be alone this time. We’ll be here to support you throughout the whole thing. But if you’d prefer to go to Highbridge, we should plan in advance.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

“You’re sure?” he checks.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Alright, then. I’ll make the arrangements for a home birth.”

Sitting up, I adjust my clothing. “Thank you, Doc. You’ve been amazing in supporting me through all of this.”

“It’s my job, love.”

“But you’ve gone above and beyond. I can’t thank you enough for making me feel so comfortable and at ease.”

He beams at me. “It’s a pleasure.”

Putting my shoes back on, I give him a quick hug before leaving the clinic room. Miranda waves at me from the kitchen where she’s baking as I exit their house, intent on checking on the cabin build.

The moment I’ve stepped outside, my phone begins to buzz in my pocket. I check the caller ID and answer when I see that it’s Ethan. He’s been calling almost every day with news.

“Ethan.”

“Willow,” he rushes to say.

“What is it? Are you okay?”

“I have news. We’ve been given a trial date for Mario Luciano.”

My feet halt. “We have? When?”

“Given the nature of the case, the high court has moved the timeline forward. His trial will take place next month, three weeks before Mason Stevenson’s will begin.”

“They’ve both been given dates?”

“I know it’s a bit of a shock.”

Rubbing my chest, I battle a wave of confusing emotions. Anticipation is humming through me at the thought of getting this whole thing over and done with, along with a heavy dose of terror.

“What does this mean for me?”

“We’d like you to testify against them at both trials. You’ll need to take the stand and give your version of events relating to the charges of human trafficking and sexual slavery.”

“Christ, Ethan. I don’t know if I can do it.”

“I believe in you, sweetheart. None of this would’ve been possible if not for your help. You can do this.”

Hesitating, I clutch the phone tight. Killian, Zach and Walker are putting up stud walls on the cabin site, loudly bickering amongst themselves in the process. I can see them from across the town square.

I have to do this for them. The guys. The town. My family. Putting these monsters behind bars is the right thing to do.

“Okay, I’ll be there.”

“You will?” Ethan’s relief is audible.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Willow. You’ve been amazing. I can’t thank you enough for all of your help throughout this case.”

“It’s the least I can do. We’re family. Speaking of… When’s Ryder moving? Did you set a date?”

“In a couple of weeks.”

“How’re you feeling about that?”

His sigh rattles through the receiver. “I’m excited to have him around more, this is a big step in our relationship. I’m just sad it means taking him from his family.”

“We’ll still be here for him. For both of you.”

“I know, sweetheart. It’s just crappy.”

“When isn’t life crappy? We have to live for the small moments, not the 99 percent of shit we face the rest of the time.”

“Right you are,” he chuckles. “Give him a kiss for me.”

“I will. Be safe.”

We end the call, and I begin the short walk over towards the guys. My phone rings again, and I answer with a short laugh.

“Ethan—”

“Mrs Sanchez,” a deep voice booms.

Dread spikes through my veins, ice cold and sharp. Ribbons of pain slice into me, phantom sensations of a time long passed, marked by agony and misery.

“Nothing to say, darling wife?” Mr Sanchez laughs.

“Dimitri,” I whisper.

“Oh, ho. Look who’s getting brave. When did I give you permission to call me that, you little whore?”

“What do you want? Why are you calling me?”

“I thought we could have a chat.”

Fumbling with the phone, I try to locate a setting to allow me to record the call but find nothing. Instead, I scurry over to the cabin site so there are witnesses to the phone call.

Killian raises an eyebrow as I approach, and I mouth SANCHEZ as clearly as possible. He immediately stiffens, his face reddening with rage as he storms over to me.

I hold a hand up and mouth NO .

“Willow,” Mr Sanchez snarls. “Are you listening to me?”

Flicking the phone to loudspeaker, I swallow my nausea. “I’m listening.”

“You’ve been evading me for over a year now. I think I’ve been patient enough, don’t you?”

“Patient?” I scoff. “You burned our property, crashed our car, tried to have me killed! You think that you’ve been patient?”

“More than enough,” he snips.

“You’re delusional.”

“My patience is running extremely low. It’s time to come home, dearest wife. I’ll forgive this divorce nonsense if you bring my daughter back to me.”

“Not a damn chance in hell.”

“Language, bitch!”

Zach has to restrain Killian to stop him from smashing the phone into pieces. He punches Zach in the stomach, and the pair tussle, forcing me to walk away to escape the noise.

“You don’t get to call me that anymore,” I snap back. “I’m not your wife. I’m not your anything. Don’t contact me again.”

“I’ll kill her.”

His words stop me on the verge of hanging up. My chest is so tight, the pain is almost too much to bear.

“W-What are you saying?”

“Arianna,” he replies simply.

“You will not touch my daughter.”

“When I get her back… I will slowly and painfully kill her while I make you watch for daring to fucking disobey me. How does that sound now, wife?”

Now I want to smash the phone just to bleach his disgusting voice from my brain.

“Fuck you,” I spit into the phone. “She was never your daughter to begin with. You’re going to get exactly what you deserve, I’ll see to it.”

“Ah, that brings me to the reason for my call,” he singsongs, sounding even more unhinged than usual. “I’ve heard my friends are going to be on trial soon.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

“My lawyer hears things, Willow.”

Fucking lawyer. That must be where he got my number from too. He should stick his client privilege up his ass, and tell us where this son of a bitch is hiding.

“If you dare to testify against Mason or Mario, there will be the severest of consequences for your disobedience. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“You can’t stop me from doing the right thing.”

“I’m not talking about burning a pathetic pile of wood or crashing a car,” he growls threateningly. “I will end the lives of every single person you love before I take your life from you too.”

“Death doesn’t scare me after living with you for ten years.”

“It should, darling. It really, really should.”

Shaking all over, I wave off Walker as he tries to approach, the other two still wrestling with each other. Killian is bright-red and shouting his head off about killing Sanchez as Zach holds him back.

“Don’t even think about doing it. I’ve been restrained up until now, but my patience has officially expired. You will bleed for me, wife. I’ve earned that penance from you, fair and square.”

Rather than melting into a terrified puddle, I straighten my spine and let loose my own unhinged laughter. Mr Sanchez is silent on the other end of the phone, hopefully taken aback by my reaction.

“I’ve bled enough for you, husband ,” I say mockingly. “No more. Enjoy hell, you’re going to rot there for an eternity by the time I’m done with you.”

Ending the call, I cut off whatever response he was about to delight me with. When Zach sees the call is finished, he finally releases Killian, who shoves him away with a frustrated howl.

“You little shit! She needed me!”

“She needed no one but herself,” I correct him.

Killian looks over at me. “What the hell happened?”

“More threats. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“Willow.” He reaches for me.

“No, Kill. He threatened my child, and I told him exactly where to stick his bullshit. I don’t need you or any man to tell me how to be a mother.”

Tucking my phone away, I turn my back and storm away from him. I’m shaking like a leaf, but deep down, I feel empowered for the first time in a long time.

Mr Sanchez has no power over me anymore.

That time has passed.

Now it’s my turn to rule.