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“I forgive you.”
A gut-wrenching howl tears from Cynthia’s throat, and she holds the banister for support, her tears clouding her vision. But I don’t make a move to comfort her since my words have provided her with the reprieve she needs.
I need her to know I get it, and I don’t want her to live with this regret a second longer. I wish her all the happiness in life. She no longer has to grieve for her daughter because her daughter is finally free.
I leave my family sobbing on the stairs and look at my man with a firm nod. “I’m ready.”
Interlacing my fingers through his, we descend the stairs slowly, and as each step brings me closer to my freedom, my steady heartbeat begins to slow.
Everything up until this moment flashes before my eyes, and although it’s now the end, I’m not nervous or scared. I’m calm, just like the eye of the storm.
We arrive at the front door, and as I reach for the handle, Quinn pulls me back. “You’re not about to be a martyr, are you?”
Sighing, I stand on tippy-toes and kiss the lips I’ve grown to love. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family,” I reply, and Quinn cocks an eyebrow.
But I don’t give him time to respond as I yank open the door, facing my worst nightmare.
A few feet away stands Phil, who holds a sobbing Abi by the back of the neck.
I finally allow my eyes to meet hers, and when they do, my entire world comes crashing down around me.
I see Hank’s pain reflected in her eyes, and that’s all the motivation I need to surrender.
“Let her go,” I snarl, looking down at him from the porch.
“Hello to you too, dear niece.” Phil smirks.
“Cut the crap. Let’s do this, you asshole,” I snap, and I can sense Quinn tense up near me, not understanding what’s going on.
“Straight to the point these days, aren’t you? My, my, you have changed. Maybe it’s got to do with this young man over here,” he says, his eyes landing on Quinn.
“Nope, it’s all me,” I reply instead, nodding at Abi, indicating that it’ll be over soon.
“I don’t think I like this little attitude of yours, Mia Lee,” he scolds like I’m a naughty child.
“Well, lucky for me, I don’t give a shit what you think. Hand her over,” I snap, faking confidence while I’m slowly dying inside.
Phil contemplates my demand as he tries to stare me down, but I’m done being the underdog.
“Maybe I’ve gotta hurt this little strawberry shortcake for you to submit,” Phil suddenly says, squeezing the back of Abi’s neck until she cries out in pain.
Gnawing my teeth together, I try to remain calm and collected.
“You’re wasting my time.” I fake yawn, examining my fingernails.
I can see the confusion hidden among Phil’s cocky demeanor, and this is exactly what I want.
How do you outsmart a con? By playing him at his own game, of course.
“So you wouldn’t mind if I had my fun with this little lamb while you watched?” Phil snickers, tonguing the side of Abi’s face in one wet lick.
She whimpers, her eyes widening, begging me to save her.
“Oh, on the contrary. You hurting her will destroy me, just like you killing Hank did,” I snarl, my body shuddering at the memory of Hank dying before my eyes. “So quit it with the melodramatics because you know I’m the one you really want.”
“Red!” This is the first thing that has come out of Quinn’s mouth, but I know that’s not because he doesn’t have anything to say.
He’s silently watching and observing, trying to figure out what the hell I’m playing at.
