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It took tremendous effort, but I didn’t let Martin see my relief, only my strength, strength that Barry believed in, and maybe Martin did now too. I sniffed and turned away.
“This isn’t over, my dear.”
Martin’s words stopped me short.
Turning, I forced a smile. “You know where to find me.”
“And me,” Kyle said, and we exchanged triumphant glances.
We’d won this battle, for now, but we both knew Martin. This was a temporary victory.
Addy
Outside Martin’s compound, Claire launched herself at Kyle. I could tell that hurt him physically, but inside where all the stuff that mattered was, it scored deeper.
He wrapped his arms around her tight. “I love you. With all I am, I love you.”
“Oh, Kyle,” Claire said, and I could hear the tears in her voice. “I love you too.”
I looked at Barry, and his gaze met mine. Love for me brimmed in his gorgeous eyes.
Love washed away even Martin’s filth.
I didn’t need to recreate the past. All the wrong parts of me were made right now because of him. Love didn’t merely cleanse, it had transformative power.
I left my niece and her boyfriend to their tight embrace and went to Barry. “We’re a great team.”
He took my hand and threaded our fingers together, then gave me a hard kiss that made my scalp tingle and my toes curl. Head to feet, heart to soul, I was full of his beautiful love.
Barry gave me an approving nod. “You kicked ass.”
“Because you believed in me. Because we all believe in each other.” I cast my gaze around. “Because love trumps evil like Martin. He doesn’t know like we do that love is bigger than hate.”
We all came together. On a cracked sidewalk outside a monster’s compound, with graffiti everywhere and trash all around, we formed two circles. An inner one that was Claire and Kyle, and an outer one that included everyone else.
We were a family, a merging of past and present. Woe to Martin or anyone else if they tried to take us down. United, we were unbreakable.
When we eased back, Kyle tried to lighten the mood. “Incredible the effort Addy will expend to make sure her Tuesday act shows up.”
“Yes, indeed.” I cracked a grin. “Depends on the act, of course. Yours being worth the expenditure.” My eyes burned with relief and something I hadn’t felt in a long time ... happiness. “You get that now, right?”
“I do.” Kyle looked at Claire. “Because of you.”
My niece smiled. “Because of all of us.”
“Right.” Kyle glanced around, his gray eyes bright like stars. “Thanks, guys.”
“For nothing,” Rachel said, but her eyes said more.
“Welcome to the ABCR family,” Barry boomed.
“And don’t forget the next-generation one, Pop.” Tommy looked at Kyle. “Glad you’re okay, man.”
“Thanks to you.” Kyle gave his friend a chin lift and turned his gaze to Missy. “And you.”
She slung his gratitude right back at him. “Thanks to you, Kyle. You must be a friend to have them. You certainly did your own part keeping it together in there.” Her icy blue eyes got melty. “Man, you look bad.”
Missy came close and gave Kyle a careful one-armed hug.
