A Warrior’s Second Chance novel Chapter 232

FAYE

Behind us, broken glass crunched as Helen stood and began assessing the room.

She moved with extra care, stepping over bodies, checking pulses that no longer existed.

“They were prepared,” she said after a moment. “No markings.”

“So… nothing that tells us who they are,” I said.

“No,” she agreed. “And that worries me more than if there were.”

She crouched again, this time to wipe the blood from her hands. I noticed then that she had a shallow cut along her forearm.

“You’re bleeding,” I pointed out.

She glanced down dismissively. “I’ve had worse.”

She was stronger than I imagined. “That’s not comforting. Let me help,” I muttered.

She chuckled softly and allowed me to clean it anyway. As I dabbed at the wound, my phone suddenly vibrated.

The sound felt too loud in the quiet room.

I looked down.

Alexander.

Helen followed my gaze. “Who is it?”

I sighed. “Your son.”

Her lips pressed together immediately. “Oh.”

“Oh?” I repeated.

She straightened, exhaling slowly. “He’s going to flip.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” I said.

I stared at the screen; the vibration had stopped now.

“He’s probably calling to check on me,” I said, half to myself. “Or because it’s been hours and I’m not back yet.”

Helen arched a brow. “Or because some instinct is screaming that something is wrong.”

That didn’t help.

“I don’t want to worry him,” I said quietly.

“And yet,” she replied, gently but firmly, “you were attacked in my house.”

I hesitated.

“He’ll want to tear the territory apart,” I murmured. “He’ll also blame himself… he always does. And he’ll be mad that I came here by myself anyway. It’s going to be quite a show.”

“You still have to tell him. You should know that Alexander’s anger is loud, Faye. But it comes from fear. And love.”

“I know,” I said. “That’s why I didn’t want to tell him before.”

The phone started vibrating again.

I sighed. “I can’t not answer.”

“No,” Helen agreed. “You can’t.”

I swiped to accept the call before I could overthink it.

“Faye?” Alexander’s voice came through immediately. “Where are you?”

I closed my eyes. “Hey. I’m still with your mom… at her house.”

“Are you okay?” he asked in that calm voice of his–the one he used when he already knew the answer and was giving me a chance to say it myself. It was almost gentle, but there was tension under it.

Or maybe I was the one imagining it.

I opened my mouth to say yes.

The word was already forming, already easy. Everything was fine. I was fine. The baby was fine. No need to drag him into it. No need to turn the day into something heavier than it already was. I’d have preferred to tell him what happened in person.

But it didn’t sit right.

I could practically see him already halfway out the door.

I handed Helen the phone.

“Alexander,” she said smoothly. “I’m here.”

“Mom,” he said instantly. “Are you hurt?”

Helen waved off the question as if he could see her. “I’m fine.”

“And Faye?”

“She’s fine too,” Helen replied. “But she shouldn’t be driving right now,” she continued, ignoring me completely. “Stress does strange things to the body, and she’s been through enough today.”

I stared at her.

Actually stared.

“I know,” Alexander said, his voice softening with relief and tension all at once. “I’m already on my way.”

“That’s good,” Helen said. “We’ll be waiting.”

And just like that, she ended the call.

The line went dead. She handed me the phone.

I stood there, phone in my hand, staring at her like I’d just been betrayed by my own ally.

“You-” I started. “Why would you do that?”

Helen turned to me, entirely unapologetic. “Because you were hoping I’d talk sense into him.”

“Yes,” I said. “Exactly that.”

She gave me a knowing look. “Then you should know better by now.”

I groaned softly and dropped onto the edge of the couch. “I thought you’d help me calm him down.”

“I did help,” she said. “Just not in the way you wanted.”