His voice rises into an unhinged roar. The mask drops. He’s red, spitting, pointing at me like I ruined his life instead of the other way around.
I clutch my chest, lungs tight, heartbeat hammering. The truth hits me in waves: Mia is safe. She’s mine. No one, no greedy, arrogant, entitled man, can take her away.
My legs buckle. I collapse into Ethan’s arms, shaking so violently I can barely hold on. Around us, the Hawthorne family converges, a living wall of protection. Dex’s eyes flash, Cas’s jaw is tight, Jude’s hands are balled into fists. They’ve already taken over the room, and I’ve never felt so… held.
Ethan cups my face gently.“You did it, baby,” he whispers.“You’re free.”
Free.
The word wedges itself into my chest, warm and jagged, and I can’t even breathe around it.
Minutes stretch. People I know and love flood forward, hugs, whispered congratulations, soft touches. Ethan smiles at my side while he thanks the people from town who came to help. He tells me he called them that day he spent hours in his office, he called every single person in Lander. Myheartis full.
My parents have already left. His parents too. I search for my sister, to thank her, to tell her she saved us, but she’s gone.
Then I hear it.
“SUMMER!”
The scream rips through the courtroom, a blade slicing through every fragile hope I’ve clutched.
I stiffen. Ethan freezes a few feet away, muscles coiled like a panther ready to strike.
Kevin’s face is unrecognizable, red, wild, spit glistening at the corners of his lips, the calm, polished mask he wore for the judge shredded to pieces.“YOU RUINED MY LIFE!” he roars, waving something, something metallic in his hand.
A flash.
A crack.
The sound pierces the air like a gunshot.
I scream.
And then everything explodes at once.
Ethan’s body slams into mine with the force of a hurricane. Chaos erupts around us. People shriek, officers rush forward, Cas tackles Kevin to the floor with a thunderous crash that rattles the benches. Papers fly like terrified autumn leaves caught in a storm. And Ethan…Ethan is on top of me, heavy, pale, trembling, every heartbeat thudding against my chest.
“No, no, no…” I choke, fingers clawing at his arm, pressing my face to his chest.
Blood blooms through the sleeve of his flannel. Bright. Hot. Terrifying.
“ETHAN!” I scream, my voice breaking. I try to hold him steady, to stop the bleeding, but my hands shake uncontrollably. My body quakes so violently I can barely breathe.“No, no, please…stay with me!”
“Mia,” he gasps, voice ragged, shallow.
Panic explodes in me like wildfire. I whip my head around.
And there she is. Penny, shielding her, chest pressed to Mia’s small frame, arms wrapping her tight like armor. Mia’s wide, frightened eyes peek out, searching, trembling. My heart rips clean in half. Jude stands in front of her blocking the horrendous view and I see him guide them to safety.
“She’s safe,” I whisper, fingers trembling as they thread through Ethan’s hair.“She’s with Penny.”
I try desperately to stop the bleeding, but the blood just keeps flowing.
“I’m okay,” Ethan whispers.
But it’s a lie. His lips tremble, eyes glassy, unfocused.
“Baby, look at me!” I sob, shaking him, pressing my forehead to his.“Look at me! I need you! Stay with me!”
