“What do you mean?” Officer Hans looked up from his notepad.
“She’s always fucking been there for us. We thought she was our friend, so she came around all the time. She knew what we were up to. She visited all the time. She was there from the fucking beginning.”
“Holy fuck.” Elio choked on a sob, clearing his throat to try to hide it. “You’re right.”
Both officers looked at each other before Officer Hans spoke up. “Is it a possibility she’s been in contact with Jude for a while, then?”
“I think so.” My Sunshine sounded so dejected and defeated. I wanted to crawl into the hospital bed with him and cuddle him for the rest of the night.
The notebook Officer Hans had been using snapped shut. “From what Moon is saying, and what both of you have said, it seems like a case of justifiable homicide. I can’t say anything for sure, of course, but I can’t see this going too far. Is there any other evidence you two have that we can use in the investigation?”
I dug my phone out of my pocket, scrolling through my photo gallery. “I have photos from when Elio escaped Jude. They’re of his bruises and stuff. Sarah had a guy named Devon come over. Some doctor guy who helped us out—gave us some antibiotics and stuff.”
Elio whipped his head toward me. “You have photos?”
I shuffled my feet. “Yeah. Devon actually mentioned the idea to me for if something like this ever happened.”
“When did you take them?”
“While you were still pretty out of it. I had to change your dressings anyway, so…” I shrugged. He didn’t seem too mad about it, more confused and shocked than anything.
Officer Blake took my phone, scrolling through the photos. “These will be really helpful. Did we ever get a last name for Devon?”
“No, but I can tell you the hospital they said he worked at.”
“Good. Mind if we hang onto these photos to print for evidence?”
“If Elio is okay with that?” I looked at him, waiting untilhe nodded. “Yeah, go ahead. But I was curious why they said there were gunshots when I got there. Jude didn’t have a gun, did he?”
Elio shook his head.
“No,” Officer Blake started. “We think the impact of Moon and Jude falling might’ve scared one of the neighbors. Made them think it was gunshots. We had multiple reports, and they were all a little different.”
“God, that scared me so bad when I got there.” I pressed my hands against my forehead, rubbing at the pressure building there. “Okay, thank you.”
They took my phone and left. Just left, as if this was just another fucking Tuesday to them. Which, I guess it was, but for Elio and me, it was a hellish memory we’d never be able to forget. It would never be just another day.
“Come back to me, Cres.” Elio’s voice pulled me out of my head, forcing my attention back to him.
When I looked at him, he had a small smile on his face and tears welling in his eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you hurting?”
He shook his head as his Adam’s apple bobbed, swallowing down the lump of emotions I knew was there. “He’s gone. He’s really fucking gone.”
“Yeah, baby. He’s gone. He’s really gone.”
He reached his arms up, begging me for a hug without any words. I leaned down, wrapping him up as gently as possible, listening to him sniffle in my ear. “I’m so fucking relieved. Is that fucked up?”
“No, baby. I don’t think that’s fucked up.”
“Thank you. Thank you for finding me. Thank you for loving me.”
I pressed a kiss to the side of his head, careful not to jostle him. Having him in my arms was all that mattered.Being here, with him right in front of me, was the one thing keeping me sane.
“I told you I never gave up.” Nine years ago, Elio had left my life, leaving my heart shattered. Today, I had him, and with him, I had my sanity back. My everything. My forever and more.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bruises faded,the leaves changed colors, and the world kept moving. Our souls, though? Our souls never seemed to stop raging.
