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“Who hit you?” I asked.
“My dad. My mom. My nanny. Anyone who felt I needed to be hit just hit me. It was easy for them.” She whipped out her arm. “So easy. At school, girls do it, so do guys. I’m a punching bag.” She shrugged.
“Amelia, you need to tell your brother.”
She shook her head. “He’s busy with running everything. At least I’m not traveling the world anymore, being left in places and having to wait to be picked up. It’s nice just having a room to myself.” She smiled, and it was so sweet, almost wistful. “My life isn’t so bad anymore.”
I didn’t know what else to say to that.
“I am going to miss you. I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for. You deserve some happiness.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. How much had Amelia heard? What did she know? She didn’t stick around. She gave me a quick hug, which I reciprocated, and then she was gone.
I stood alone in the kitchen. Time passed. The scents of the food filled the air.
Gripping my neck, I tried to massage the kinks that had worked into my body. Nothing eased the tension.
“I can’t believe it’s your last night,” Emily said. “And of course you won’t let us cook for you.”
“I don’t mind cooking.”
“I know.” Emily chuckled. “You always have a way of making us feel better, and I don’t have the first clue what to do to help you.”
“Don’t make this hard, or about you.”
“I’m not that selfish, am I?”
I smiled. “You can be when there’s something you want.”
She released a sigh, putting a hand on her swollen stomach. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Well, I want to.”
“Is it so awful here?”
“Not too much, but this isn’t my home. I’m not happy here, and it’s time I started to live my own life, you know?”
Emily groaned. “What about when I give birth? I don’t want you to miss it.”
“I won’t. You call me, and I’ll be on the first plane back. I promise.” I moved around the counter and went to her side, pulling her in against me and pressing a kiss to her head. “Nothing is going to change. You’re going to see that. You were doing fine when I wasn’t here.” I couldn’t bring myself to say his name.
This was a clean slate. A new beginning. One I intended to take full control of.
She tried to stand up, but I wouldn’t let her. “You need to rest,” I said.
“You’re so bossy. When did you get to be that way?”
“I learned from the best.” I gave her a wink and she groaned.
“You make me sound so awful.”
“Not awful. You always knew what you wanted. There’s no harm in that.” I pulled the casserole pot out of the oven, resting it on top of the stove, and removed the lid. A nice wave of steam came out, and along with it, the delicious smells of dinner.
“I can’t believe you’re going to get us to eat an entire head of cauliflower. I’m expecting my guys to moan.”
“It’s going to taste good.” My mouth salivated. “I’m going to set the table.” I made to pass Emily, but she captured me, pulling me into my arms.
“I’m so sorry he did what he did.”
I held on to her. “It’s not your fault.”
“It is. I should have done something to protect you.”
“It’s no one else’s fault I fell in love. This is all on me.” I rubbed at her back. “I love you.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
I gave her a squeeze. I was going to miss her too.
****
Earl
“Fuck you. You fucking piece of shit.”
I listened as Knight spat out the words. I cleaned off my blade from the blood I’d gotten on it. Ashley was out of the country. Landed safely at Heathrow airport, arrived at her apartment without a hitch, and had finished her first day at work. Then her second day. For a week, she’d gotten into a routine, and I knew because I’d been the one to closely monitor her.
As I used her as my distraction, Knight made his move, just as I knew he would.
The shipment of girls he intended to take were fakes. I’d arranged for mannequins to be placed within the cargo hold, and when his men had come to get them, we’d been ready.
I’d sunk the ship with some of his men still alive. There had been cameras on the ship, and I’d made Knight watch as his men drowned.
Some would call me cruel. This was simple payback.
Knight’s attacks had grown in severity and frequency. His patience being tested to the limit and along with it, my own.
I won. Like I always did.
I’d been waiting for Knight at his secure location, which happened to be a beautiful country estate. For the women who had been slaves here, I’d already made the necessary calls to be set free. Their stories would make the news, and Knight’s entire kingdom would fall. Along with it and all stocks and shares, people would be begging for a way out, and they wouldn’t get it. Every single investor would suffer, and just the thought made me smile. Also, I had him tied to the pool table, completely naked as he spewed out his curses.
