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She had lost, but she looked like she had somehow won.

“Yes. I know you’d kill me, and I…” She closed her eyes. “I’m so tired, Little Love.”

She looked so at peace. I hated it. I wanted her to beg to live. To fight. To claw for every last second of her life.

“You wanted me to kill you.”

“If I can’t live with you, I want to die by you.” Her voice was soft. Certain. “Die next to you.”

“You’re insane.”

A faint smile touched her lips. “I was never given a chance to be anything else.” Trish spread her hands. “I love you, Yara. I have always, always loved you.”

I gritted my teeth as I pulled the garrote tight, tighter. She was smiling. She was smiling.

“I love you.”

“I hate you.”

I gritted my teeth.

“Die.”

I had carried the ghosts of people she had murdered with me forever. It was time she took them with her.

Her eyes fluttered closed.

“Now you can rest in peace, Kat.”

I will.

Trish’s body fell to the floor.

I closed her eyes, and my tears touched her cheek.

I sobbed, my fingers running along the bruise on Patricia’s back. The scars happened to the little girl. Patty.

“It is over, love,” Ryden said, voice so soft. “It’s over.”

I wiped my tears and stood up. I looked down at Patricia—Trish. She looked so pale, so fragile. I waited for the guilt. For the pain. I felt nothing. There was only a big empty hole in my chest.

I turned to Ryden.

“Help me out of these chains?” he asked.

I found the keys beside Trish and unlocked him. The moment he was free, he jumped to his feet and pulled me into a tight hug, his fingers digging into my back with desperation. I buried my face against his chest, breathing him in.

Home. This was home. He was.

“Let’s go home, love.”

“I’m already there. You’re my home!”

42

PAST DUE

YARA