Fate

Chapter 134

Mina's POV
I felt so empty. Not numb, not bored, not disinterested.. Void. It wasn't a feeling I held while I worked, but as soon as I sat down in front of my TV or nothing of substance it loomed. This emotion was an old friend. It was misunderstood. It settled when I needed something I couldn't immediately have... Or my dad. The issue with it was that it came into the late hours of the night causing insomnia. "He's been trying to call me for days.." I turned to my dog. "He keeps using you as an excuse. He says you need a place to run, but my mom's backyard does the trick doesn't it?" There was a knock on the door. "Who got around the security system?" I looked into the door's lense. "That thing is blurry as hell.." I stopped whispering to myself. "What does someone want at this hour?"

The voice. "Who else would be a d*ck about time? What does the Miss think?"

I opened the door in a heartbeat and got greeted with the tightest hug. "What in the world are you doing here? Wouldn't you go to your parents first? Or just your apartment!"

He fluffed my furball. "Hey, buddy!" He smiled at me. "I was going to my place, but I saw your lights we still on. Mind the company?"

I smiled back. "I don't mind. Just take your boots off, you're bringing snow in."
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"You're finally done with the case? Can you tell me about it?"

"You're the only one willing to listen to these, except my old military buddies." He laughed, playing with the cup of coffee in his hands. "If only you could consult on these for me. You always have another perspective on things."

Now, I was the one laughing. "I'm not legally allowed to even go near a file. I didn't finish my bachelor."

"I don't mean your scientific expertise. You have a sixth sense about stuff and, to be honest, you could say the same thing my colleagues say and I'd argue with them, but agree with you."

I was flattered. "That's your bias. I'm your best lady friend. Of course, you'd agree with me. I can sound smart even when I say dumb things."

He raised a brow. "Humor me, will you? We had to dismantle a drug circle between military bases in the East of the country."

No way. "Let me guess, some people you know were implicated."

"Close enough. We did work together in Laval and.. you kind of dated the guy? Anyway. It's a bit bad to say, but handcuffing him was one of the highlights."

I can't say it shocked me, but surprise was still there. "Raphael's in jail? I can't say I didn't expect he'd en up there. He had a juvenile record exsponged." However.. "It's still mean of you to say."

A hand went up. "After what he did to you? It's mean? I think it's karma."

"It's not because it happens that you have to be glad. I don't preach by example sometimes, I have to admit.. You did how many arrests in the province?"

He sighed. "You're deflecting." He still answered. "4 here. Ten in Ontario. 3 in New Brunswick. It was a 3M dollars worth of trading."

I tapped my fingers against my cup. "And the drug of choice? C*caine, h*roine, m*thamphetamine?" From his glare.. "Worst? You're kidding."

My guess was right. "F*ntanyl. The purest on the market. We found a few of the guys had ADHD meds with the other drug. The lab said that was seriously dangerous."

"Of course it's dangerous! I'm surprised none of them overdosed." Again, his green eyes said it all. "That's what started the case didn't it? What did Frank think? He still works there doesn't he?"

He shrugged. "Frank knew Raphael was dumb, but this dumb? Jesus Christ.." He looked at me. "You could press charges. He's going in Court anyway."

"For leaving me to freeze on a cold winter night while I waited for him to exit the military ball 8 years ago?" I sighed. "I don't think so. That's childish, not abusive."

"Did you forget he r*ped you? More than once because of the blurred lines of consent in a relationship?" He seemed angry.

"Stef, do you think I don't recall that when my mind gets the best of me? Besides, I'm the stupid one who didn't pull away." I wasn't worth it. I'd never win a case anyway. My voice cracked."It's a battle of words. Even it was just me speaking against him in Court, they'd question the validity of my claims. We both know the system." I cried more than that statement should.

"We're not supposed to do tears How could you have pushed away a 250 pounds guy when you were 75 pounds lighter than the man at the time." He moved from across me to next to me. "You're not an idiot. You're the smartest girl, hell, the smartest human I know. You're not well versed in romantic relationships. That's fine. You have a good one going." A hand on my back. "Unless that's where the sad part comes in?"

Should I ask? "Is it dumb for me to feel spread thin and also wanting everything?"

A corner of his lips rose. "Things going very well for you, huh? I don't think it's dumb. It's human. For once you get so many great things. The thing is, you can't do it all."

"I can't wait until September to move.. If I play my cards right, I can move in May."

"Hello impulsivity! I haven't seen you in a while." He laughed. "But, honestly.. festivals don't give you as much as these kpop shows and if you keep doing all your business back there, you could."

I took a sip of coffee. "The only thing is my weekly segments. We can record in advance or do by zoom, but you either neglect being in actuality or quality."

He shrugged. "Who said you had to neglect quality? I'm sure you can plan a space to do that professionally."

"Boy, did I miss you. Got plans in the summer to help me put that together?"

"On the phone, sure! I don't have holidays like you, ma'am."

Fair enough! I felt a tiny less empty.