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“Daddy loves you, sweetheart.” He sobs into her hair, collapsing back against the wall with her still in his arms. Eyes soaked with tears, he looks up at me. “I wasn’t going to let her burn.”
No. He was going to kill both of them first.
“I know,” I say softly. “I think I need to take her now.”
His head bobs up and down, but his grip tightens.
I do the only thing I can. I rest my hand on his. The contact makes him rear back in shock.
“Show her that her daddy wants to protect her. Be the man she thinks you are.”
One by one, his fingers release.
He doesn’t object when I reach for her. He doesn’t utter a word as he sinks to the floor.
“Come with us, Rob.”
He may be a monster, but I’m not.
His justice should be outside this house. Dying this way is too easy.
He shakes his head before holding the gun to his temple and roars, “Get the fuck out.”
Nodding, I tell Hannah to nuzzle her face in my neck and not look up.
Jake is still outside when I leave with her in my arms.
He takes a menacing step forward. “Stop,” I shout. “Take her. She needs you now.”
Face contorted into a rage I’ve never seen before, he grabs Hannah, places his jacket over her head, and we descend into flames.
Eyes stinging from the smoke, the fire roars everywhere. It’s already dancing across the railing on the stairs. But we’re close to the door.
We’re going to get out.
Choking, Jake pulls the door open.
But he hesitates.
Why is he stopping?
Terror seizes as he turns and places Hannah in my arms.
“No,” I sob.
“Get out, baby. Get her out.”
He’s leaving me with no other choice, and I fucking hate him.
I hate him so much.
Pushing and taking my protest with him, he turns and runs.
I don’t see him anymore. The flames swallow him whole.
With fresh air in my lungs, a gunshot is the last thing to ring out in the wind.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
