Begin Again novel Chapter 220

Whoever said the wheels of justice turn slowly clearly hadn't met Clarke Anderson.

In the days following his only son's shooting, together with his security team, he fought like a gladiator to bring Aleksei to book.

But since half, the police force was on the Ivanovs' payroll, and without actual proof and witnesses, getting the one half of the Russian mob behind bars proved to be a difficult feat.

Finding the gun that almost ended his son's life was a bit of a stretch; Clarke was well aware of that. However, he did try to locate the waitstaff and bartender present at the time of the shooting. Other than James and his team, they were the only other witnesses. But, like most people where the mob is concerned, they all refused to talk, insisting they knew nothing and saw nothing on the day of the incident.

Clarke's only hope was gaining access to the security footage, and if it wasn't for Liam's history with the racetrack company, he would have hit another dead-end. He had to wait two days, though, to get a copy of the footage because it was already archived.

Armed with proof at last and Willow and Eden at his side for moral support, he tried again to get the cops to look into the incident.

And when they were turned away yet again, Clarke decided the time for being nice was over. He pulled out the big guns and played just as dirty as the Ivanovs.

After countless meetings with the station commander, numerous threats to withhold political campaign donations for a mayor hopeful, and a single phone call to the highest office in the country, a case of attempted murder was finally opened with Rock Castle's Police Services. Soon after, Aleksei was arrested at a private airstrip in Linksfield as he was about to board his Gulfstream G150 and pull a Houdini on everyone.

The arrest played out on all the major news networks and was the number one trending topic on all social media platforms, much to Lydia's annoyance. She loved dangerous men, but only when they didn't steal her thunder.

Sienna was just as annoyed, but for very different reasons.

So while Eden and the other two packed away her cutlery and dishes in storage boxes and Aiden ran around the living room in his training underwear and a smaller box over his head, Sienna refused to help.

Instead, she lounged on the couch and painted her toenails, supervising everyone's progress amidst all her complaints.

"Honestly, Edie, do you hate me that much? I mean, you sat on the hottest scoop. AGAIN! You knew they were about to arrest the sexy—I mean—crazy Russian, and you didn't say anything."

Eden held up her hands. She's guilty as charged.

She knew an arrest was imminent, but with Liam still heavily sedated, her only focus was his recovery.

"Remind me not to piss off Daddy Clarke." Lydia made kissing faces in Eden's direction.

"Ugh! You are so gross!" Cassandra was disgusted on Eden's behalf. "He's Aiden's grandfather!"

"And he's married!" Added Sienna.

"I never said I'll do him," Lydia defended herself since no one would stick up for her. "But you all know I'm not averse to mature men.

"You are not averse to anything that moves and—" Eden was about to remind her anything goes when it comes to her choice of bedmates when Aiden ran up to her and held her knees.

"Mom," he cried and buried his face in her legs. "Where's Dad?"

Her friends were taken aback by his question since he hasn't known Liam that long.

Eden wasn't surprised, though. Not a day went by without Aiden asking for his father, even after visiting him. And every day, Eden would assure him Liam will be home soon.

She knelt on the floor now, took him in her arms, and explained to him again that Liam is still not feeling and has to stay at the hospital for a little while longer but will be home soon.

"No," Aiden shook his head and wailed. "Dad! Nemo!"

"I know, sweetheart!" she kissed his forehead. "When Dad comes back, you can sit and look at Nemo the whole day."

"Why is he crying for Nemo now? I thought PAW Patrol is his thing?" Sienna waved her hand over her toes to dry the nail polish.

"It was until we moved in with Liam, and he saw the aquarium with all sorts of fish, including clownfish," Eden explained, feeling a little exhausted suddenly.

A sharp pain shot up her lower abdomen when she picked Aiden up, and a cold line of sweat trickled down her back as dread tightened its grip on her heart.

"Can you guys look after him for a second?" She pushed her son in Cassandra's arms and ran to her bathroom, shuddering with relief when she didn't see any telltale signs of bleeding.

"Thank God," she cried. "Thank you, Jesus!"

She'd die or go insane if she had to lose the baby. Sure it wasn't planned, and they should have been more responsible even though she thought they were. But since finding out she's pregnant and knowing her chances of carrying to full term weren't looking good, she wanted their baby to survive as much as she wanted Liam to wake up.

Eden spent a few moments collecting herself, and when she's sure there were no traces of tears in her eyes, she left the silence of her bathroom and returned to her friends, waiting with expectant looks on their faces.