“Why did you come back?”I finally asked.
“I heard about the round up.That they’re all in jail.”The happiness seeped out of Janice’s expression.“I wanted to make sure they all stayed there.”
“You went to the police?”
Janice blew out a breath and her voice grew serious.She practically deflated.“And I heard what happened to you.I’m so fucking sorry, Cadence.I never thought it’d come back to you like that.I never meant for that to happen.”
My throat felt like it was about to close, so I swallowed hard and gave her a weak smile.“It’s fine.No one would have guessed any of that would have happened.”
It seemed those were the words she needed to hear because she relaxed into her chair.“I handed over everything I took from Rick.And I plan to be here for the trial once they have that date.They’re ruined, Cadence.Rick.His men.All of the Ryder gang.They can’t hurt you or me anymore.We won.”She let out a soft sob.“We fucking won.”
Janice broke down in front of me and cried.
Toby and Seth looked like they had no clue what to do.I barely knew what to do myself.Knowing that the guys hugged me every time I cried, I did the same.I wrapped Janice in the biggest hug I could muster.
She turned and leaned in to me, wrapping her arms around my waist as she practically buried herself in me.She was smaller than me, so it was easier.
“You did win,” I whispered.“You won the day you left this place behind.”
She sobbed even harder and I got it.I really did.Even though she had left this life, it would have still shadowed her every day.How often did she look over her shoulder, expecting to see Rick McCormack or one of his men?How many times did someone in a crowd look like him, stealing her breath away as fear rooted her in place?How often did she freeze when she heard someone who sounded all too much like him?How many questions did glances from strangers leave her with?
But now she had definitive proof that he was behind bars and everyone was so sure he’d always stay there.Especially with whatever proof she gave the police.I was curious, but I would never ask.While I wanted to know what put my life at risk, a part of me didn’t.
Janice pulled away, wiping at her face.She laughed.“I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry.That he wasn’t worth any more tears.And yet, I see you and it’s back to the water works.Ezi is going to get a kick out of this.”
“Ezi?”
She grinned like a maniac, her eyes lighting with happiness once more—clear and bright like the sky on a summer day.
“Ezra.”She grabbed a necklace around her neck and pulled it out.On it dangled a pretty ring with a diamond.“My fiancé.”
My eyes widened as happiness flooded through me.“You’re getting married?”
“Yes, next fall.”She released the necklace and blushed as she looked down.
Seth pushed over hot chocolate, giving her a kind smile.He handed me mine and another for Toby.The fourth one sat in front of him.All of them had a nice dose of whipped cream and some shaved chocolate.Seth always made hot chocolate better than I did—and he never used the cheap stuff.Bryan was making sure both our houses were stocked properly with the good kind.
“Thank you,” Janice said.She cleared her throat.“I met Ezi only shortly after leaving.We may have, uh, messed around for a couple of weeks.I was...I don’t know...angry?Confused?I just wanted an outlet and he let me take it out on him.Then I got pregnant.”Again her face was red.
“Wait.You have a kid?”
“Six months.”She took out her phone and quickly pulled up photos.
I moved closer for a look.He was the most adorable creature I’d ever seen.So tiny.“He has your eyes.”
“And his daddy’s hair.”She chuckled.“Once Ezi realized I was pregnant, he was determined to marry me, but I kept saying no.”
“Why?”
“I told him he had to truly love me first.I’d rather be a single mom than tied to a stranger who was going to suddenly change on me.”
“And he proved it,” I said.
She nodded.“More than proved it.He’s...it’s hard to explain.He’s air itself.He’s been putting me back together.Helping me even when I tried to push him away.He refused to leave me even when I was being a complete bitch to him.And trust me, I tried.I really did.He took all of my bullshit.”
I looked at the necklace again.“And now you’re marrying him.”
“And now I’m marrying him.”
