~~Young~~

Chapter Twelve

   Oh how true her words were.

   “You’re right,” Sera bobbed her head absently, “you’re always right though,” she gave Mama a smile, “I need to stop fighting myself over what to do about Gage.”

   “So then what’s it going to be, in or out?”

   “I have to decide now,” Sera asked in mild shock, “I thought you meant I should think about it some more.”

   “No, because you just made my point. You’ve obviously done enough thinking, now it’s time to choose. In or out?”

   “I…”Sera searched within herself, “in….I think.”

   “No more thinking-”

   “But what if it’s a mistake Mama?” Sera pleaded with her.

   “Then so be it. We all make mistakes, and we all have to deal with the consequences for having made them.”

   “This could cost me my freedom though Mama, if this goes the wrong way then I could be putting every Angel I know at risk.”

   “They, as you, knew the risk involved when they took the oath.”

   An oath Mama was more than aware of. As she had mentioned before, there was nothing Sera hid from Mama.

   “It’ll break me,” Sera tried to reason with Mama, “if this goes bad, if I let him in and he betrays me then I don’t think I’ll be able to come back from that. I won’t ever be me again.”

   “And who says it will? Not every mistake is a bad one, not every mistake has to end in dire consequences.”

   “But how can I know which way it’s going to go?”

   “You don’t, and that’s life Sera. If we all had crystal balls then you think either of us would be standing here right now?”

   “No,” Sera said quietly.

   “Then make your choice, right now, in or out?”

   Again Sera racked her brain for an answer that didn’t come with reservations. In meant terrible things if he was who she suspected him to be. Even if she didn’t tell him everything, held things back just to be safe, she would still be his to take away whenever he wanted. But in also meant she could learn more of him, at least maybe have an idea of his movements, his motives.

   In meant more of Gage in every sense.

   Out didn’t really change much when she really thought about it. He wasn’t going to give up on her, would still be there to ask questions. But out meant he’d have to go more underhanded ways to get the information he wanted. Manipulate her maybe. Out meant she wouldn’t know where he was, what he was doing. She couldn’t casually send a text asking what he was up to, if he would even answer her truthfully. Out might lead to animosity on his part when she avoided him, and she’d seen the way he was when he was angry. She didn’t want that turned on her.

   Out seemed to mean more problems any way she looked at it.

   Then that left her with only one choice, “in.” however grudgingly.

   “I’m going to hold you to that,” Mama pulled Sera in for a hug, “the next time I see you I want to hear about your date.”

   “What date?” Sera frowned.

   “The one you’re going to invite him on the first chance you have.”

   “Um…sure,” Sera laughed awkwardly.

   She wasn’t going to tell Mama how she had realized just earlier herself how little time she had for Gage.

   The cheerfulness in Mama’s gaze was gone when they separated, her being all too well of what Sera was going to do next.

   “Two blocks south,” she said unprompted, “it’s called the Shadow Bar. You’ll find what you’re looking for there.”

   Sera leaned in for another hug and held tight, “thanks Mama.”

   “Oh believe me sweetie I’m the one that should be thanking you. You keep us alive, the least I can do is make sure you stay that way too.”

   “And should I need you?”

   Mama pulled back and patted her thigh where the phone Sera had bought her sat in her pocket, “it’s on and charged. But, as always, I hope I don’t hear from you.”

   Neither did Sera. Sure Mama had called her a few times when she needed something Sera normally wouldn’t think to bring, like batteries or feminine supplies. But for Mama and her “family’s” safety Sera would never call her.

   A flesh wound and even broken bones she could handle. As long as she was able to move under her own power she would be able to get herself out of there and get to a not so suspicious hospital. One closer to the hotel she was supposed to be staying at and as such not raise so many eyebrows to what events had led to her injury.

   It was the one number Sera had never called, because calling Mama meant she wasn’t just hurt, but dying.