“I love you, Parker. I swear to you I will protect you with my life.” Maverick confesses and my heart slams into my ribcage. I know wholeheartedly that he means every word.
“I love you, too.” I say softly. And I do. I love him in a way I never thought was possible. Maverick Cain is everything I didn’t know I needed in a man, and I can no longer be without. He came out of nowhere and captivated me, consumed me, and made me feel alive again. Every fiber of my being screams to be his. He leans forward and presses a long, gentle kiss to my lips, then pulls back to smile at me.
“Come on, let’s lay down. You need to rest a little more.” He says and climbs up the mattress to lay down next to me. I wrap my arms around his waist, and rest my head on his chest. With Maverick’s heart beat as my lullaby, I drift back into a deep sleep.
It’s been two weeks since Maverick, Karson and Uncle Nick found me. We’re still in Rhode Island–Maverick doesn’t want to get me on a plane until he knows that I’m fully healed and ready to head back to Oregon. Today is that day. The headaches and dizziness have finally subsided and the foggy state I’ve been living in has lifted.
They told me that Preston brought me to our old house, and they’ve learned that he was going to take me somewhere else. A car was set to come and get us the same day they found me. Thankfully, they wasted no time, arriving at the house just a few hours before that car was supposed to arrive. Nick had one of his men waiting at the house for the driver and when he arrived, he was killed quickly. Who knows what Preston would have donein those few hours. After telling Maverick everything that had happened to me, I decided to tell my uncle as well. He didn’t deserve to go the rest of his life thinking I didn’t want him in mine anymore; he deserved to know the truth. We cried, hugged, and he apologized for not seeing the signs sooner. How could he? I always protected Preston, and then I wasn’t able to get away.
Nick, Marie and I have spent most nights staying up late watching movies like we used to, and Maverick has joined us for all of them. Karson is still here as well, but he spends most of his time down in the tunnels where Preston still sits. He comes in the house for meals, then disappears again. I don’t need to ask to know that he’s making Preston’s life agony for the time being, and while the thought should make me uncomfortable, it doesn’t–I’m grateful.
Leaves crunch under my shoes with each step I make and a cold wind whips through the trees and brushes across my face. Coming to a stop, I release a shaky breath as I look down at the marble head stone in front of me and trace my fingers across the names.
Moretti
Anthony and Tanya
“I miss you so much.” I whisper and drop to my knees in front of my parents’ final resting place. Visions of their last day plague my mind, and I lower my head. To know what actually happened that day has filled a hole in my chest that I have carried since I was twelve. I take a deep breath, and slide my eyes over to the large, cross shaped monument directly to the right of their graves. It stands about eight feet tall, and has an angel with outstretched arms engraved at the top of the cross. My eyes trail down the beautiful granite to the base, and the tears fall to the ground like rain.
Elizabeth Ann Moretti
Beloved daughter and niece
1996-2023
It is so strange to see a grave with my name on it. Reaching out, I brush my fingers along the lettering, and let out a silent sob. Fallen leaves rustle with the sound of footsteps, and I feel his large hands wrap gently around my shoulders.
“Are you okay, Sweetheart?” Maverick whispers, his warm breaths tickling my ear. Nodding, I look over my shoulder to see him crouched behind me. A soft, sympathetic smile pulls at his lips.
“I’m okay.” I nod, then sniff as I stand back up. “It’s just strange to see. I’m still here, but seeing this really puts into perspective just how much had to happen to be able to say that.” I say and he wraps his arms around my waist from behind.
“I can’t even imagine.” He says softly and we both stare at the cross. His voice breaks the silence after a moment.
“So, do you want to be Elizabeth again? It is the name your parents gave you.” I think for a moment, then shake my head.
“No. Elizabeth died in that house. Little by little over time, she died. So, as strange as it is to see, this is a memorial for the me who never got the chance to really live.” A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow it down. “I haven’t been Lizzy for a long time.” I finish with a whisper. Maverick tightens his arms around me, and drops a kiss to the side of my neck. We stay for a little while longer, before I gently place the Calla Lilies in my left hand on my parents headstone. They were Moms favorite, and Dad brought her some everyday after work. Maverick steps out from behind me, and drops a single black rose at the base of Elizabeth’s memorial.
“Black?” I ask with my eyebrows pulled together.
“They represent strength, rebirth, and transformation. They also represent a final farewell. Lizzy’s death was the birth of Parker. A strong, courageous and brilliant woman. The woman I fell in love with.” My heartswells as he steps up to me and grabs my face in both of his hands, tipping my head up to look into his green eyes. I smile, then raise on my tiptoes to touch my lips to his. He kisses me long and slow, then touches his forehead to mine when we part.
“Are you ready?” He whispers and I nod. Lacing my fingers with his, we walk back over to the car where George and Uncle Nick wait for us. We slide in the back seat, and ride back to my uncles in silence, fingers still laced.
It’s time to finish this for good.
Chapter forty-one
My footsteps echo throughoutthe concrete tunnel as I make my way to the end, Maverick and Nick walk silently behind me. As we reach the end, I can hear labored breathing and dark laughter. Neither of the men were too keen on the idea of me doing this, each of them wanting to do it themselves, but I insisted.
Stepping into the opening at the end, my eyes fall on Preston who is chained to a chair, then slide over to Karson who leans against a metal table. Small specks of blood decorate his face, and he looks over to me with a smile.
Glancing back over to Preston, I see my assumption was right. Karson has been tormenting him. He’s weak, struggling to breathe and covered head to toe in blood. Both of his eyes are black and blue, and swollen almost completely shut. There’s a few cuts that decorate his face and neck. Trailing my gaze down the rest of his body, I note the large gashes on his arms, and a few missing fingers. Looking down, I see the appendages discarded haphazardly on the floor. My eyes slide back to Karson, who looks extremely proud of himself.
“He’s all yours, Babe.” He says and steps around me to stand with Maverick and my uncle. Stepping over to the table, I run my fingers overthe instruments laid out on top. I lazily run my fingers along each one, and come to a rest on a simple kitchen knife with an eight inch blade. Picking it up, I test the sharpness by plucking my thumb against the edge.
This will do.
Weak laughter sounds from behind me, and I turn to face the person responsible for robbing me of my life.
