My hands wrapped around the wheel, and for the first time in weeks, I wasn't holding a weapon. It almost felt abnormal.
The hum of the highway carried us north, the skyline fading into trees and back roads.
"God," Layla said, leaning her head against the glass. "I forgot what trees looked like without walls around them."
Becca gave a soft laugh that died quickly. "Yeah. Trees and air that doesn't smell like blood and abuse."
Her voice cracked at the end, and Kit wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
"It's over," Kit whispered to her. "We're home now."
Becca nodded, but her eyes stayed fixed on Kit, dull and unfocused. Jacob twisted in his seat, flashing them a grin. "Almost all of Chepachet is woods and trees." He lookedat Kitlyn and Becca. "You girls know that because you live in the same area."
They both nodded in agreement.
Layla huffed, a smile ghosting across her lips. "I'll take trees and living in no-man's-land over chains any day."
"Fair trade." Jacob said.
Kit pressed forward slightly, her voice reaching me from behind. "It feels strange…being back here. Like none of it happened, but it did. I don't even know what normal is supposed to feel like anymore."
My hands gripped the wheel. "Normal doesn't exist," I said. "But peace? You'll have that here."
She was quiet for a moment, then nodded, settling back into her seat. We drove in silence for a stretch, the sound of tires on asphalt filling the gaps. Then Layla spoke, softer this time. "I would like to see the ocean. Not today…but soon."
It was March, and still cold in Rhode Island. "You'll see it." I said. "The best time to visit the beaches is in the summer, so in a few months."
Jacob reached for the radio, flipping through the channels. He settled on Sirius Pop 2K. A variety of pop music hummed through the speakers, low and steady, filling the car with something other than silence.
The girls didn't sing, but through the mirror on the visor, I watched Kit tap her fingers lightly against her knee. I was glad to see her climbing out of her shell. This was a significant milestone since being rescued.
She was taking her life back.
The further north we went, the narrower the roads became, lined with thick woods.
Home.
My kind of home anyway. Even though the place was bought through the CIA, I was willing to purchase it from them if Kit wanted it.
The area was small, tucked away….quiet enough to disappear in, large enough to hold what was mine. When the SUV finally turned down the winding drive to the estate, the girls pressed closer to the windows. Especially Layla. She had always lived in Mexico, so this would be a clean break for her.
A new start.
The stone walls, the iron gate, the sweeping lawn…it all rose into view, surrounded by towering trees. Kit's hand rested against the glass, her breath fogging a small circle.
"We made it," she whispered.
"Yeah, Kitten," I said quietly. "We did."
I pulled into the underground garage. For the first time in weeks, my chest eased. This was the beginning of something much better. I was going to make damn sure of it.
Chapter 32
The aftermath
Kitlyn
The moment the SUV pulled into the garage, my chest cracked open. I hadn't realized how long I'd been holding my breath until then. The kitchen door opened before we even reached the steps. Joey stood there grinning, his arms crossed casually. "About damn time," he said.
