Calla squeezed her sister’s hand. “You were dealing with your own trauma. I’m just glad we both are free now.”
Abigail reached over and hugged her. There’d been a lot of hugs recently. “We are free, and he can’t do anything more to hurt us.”
Calla would be lying to say she didn’t have nightmares still. But Brent was locked up, and they were free to live their lives.
Their parents' house was up for sale. Brent wouldn't be getting any of the money. Instead, she and Abigail would split the funds. Now that their parents had been declared dead, they had life insurance money that would come their way. The money didn't make up for the crap they'd been through, but it would go a long way to giving her the resources to help fight human trafficking.
That's what she'd decided to do. The college classes she planned to take were all about learning how to help in the fight against trafficking. Thario thought her idea of working with him was great. Together, they would fight to free others.
Thario stood and stretched. “I think it’s time to head out. Thank you for having us.”
“Of course,” Griz said as he pulled Thario into a hug.
Both Frog and Hope were up and ready to go. Part of her wished the dogs could talk. Though their faces were expressive enough that she could almost tell what they were thinking without them even uttering a word.
Elowen hugged her before Griz did. Then she hugged her sister, glad they were both free.
“I’ll see you in a few days,” Calla said to Abigail.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Thario held her hand on the way out to the van. They were good together. Eventually, they would get married, but neither of them wanted to rush it.
The drive home was fast, and they let the dogs out so they could get in one last potty break before bed.
Once inside their bathroom, Thario pulled her shirt up and tossed it to the floor. He stepped back and slowly let his eyes travel down her body.
“You like what you see?” Calla asked.
“Very much so.”
Once they were naked, he slowly slid his hands over her curves as she ran her hands around to his butt.
“Thank you for being patient, for loving me where I was and not forcing anything,” Calla said.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know I could have forced us to move faster, but I’m happy that we took it slow. It allowed both of us to grow.”
She nodded. "It did. I can see that you're more confident now. That confidence looks good on you."
“Thank you. Love looks good on you.”
She leaned in and kissed him, letting him push her to the bed. They both laughed as they rolled around on the sheets, but he sobered when she moved to straddle him.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I love you so much.”
“I love you, Thario. I can’t imagine life without you.”
“You’re the only one for me.”
She stared down into his eyes and believed him. He treated her like a queen, and he was her king. They may have suffered and might have come away with scars, but together, they were made whole.
Thario gave her back her life. She loved him, and he loved her. And that was what would define them, their love, not what someone else had done, but what they’d built together.
The End
