I take Grace's hand and we walk forward without another word. I’m limping more than I’d like, but that doesn't matter. I’m going to leave this place with Grace, and she’s going to know that she’s free.
We head past her uncle, past the thugs in the hall, and toward a door at the far end.
“This way,” she says, tugging at my hand
We walk down the hall together and push open the door.
As soon as I we get outside, I hold Grace tightly against my body, taking a moment, just a small moment to really hold her. I’m so proud of her. “You did good, princess,” I whisper into her ear.
“I killed him,” she says softly. I can hear the pain in her voice, but what’s more, I can hear the gratification.
“I’m proud of you.”
She pulls back and looks at me, raw vulnerability in her eyes. “Really?”
“Really.” I kiss her softly on the lips.
Chapter 28
Grace
* * *
I could feel the knife plunging into his neck. My father. The Don.
I killed him.
I’ve wanted to kill him for so long. I fantasized about it. I wept for hours in my room after they told me Gio was dead, imagining all the ways I’d kill him. I didn’t know how I’d do it, and now that it’s done, I’m still in disbelief.
I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t think. I just saw the chance, and I acted. I grabbed the knife and I killed him as all of the fury and rage from my whole life spilled out of me in that moment.
I felt horrible. I felt broken. And I felt … liberated.
It felt good. Yet again, I feel as though I must be sick. I’ve killed, and I have no regrets. I’ve fallen in love with a man who took me prisoner. I must truly be sick.
“Princess?” Gio’s rough cadence when he calls my name makes my body heat with need.
I look over, snapped out of my thoughts. Gio is looking at me, concern clear on his face. We’re stopped at a red light. His truck is idling beneath us. We had to walk a few blocks, and all the while I gripped his hand with fear as though my father was coming for us. But he’s dead. I have to keep reminding myself of that fact.
“I’m okay,” I say softly. For some reason, I want to lie to him. I don’t want him to be upset or to worry about me. I know that’s crazy, but it’s the truth.
“You’re not okay,” he says simply. “We’ll be home soon.” He reaches across the truck and takes my hand, a sudden and comforting gesture.
It’s such a small thing, but I needed it.
Home. I’ve never had a home. Only a prison. I look at him from the corner of my eye and wonder if he’s going to put me in that room. He can’t. It will crush me if he tries. I’m finally free, and I know what I want. I want him. I want a life together. But I can’t be caged anymore. Never again.
I lean back in the seat and nod my head. Gio is bruised and beaten, in horrible shape, but he’s still going. He’s the strongest man I’ve ever met. He was willing to do anything to save me, to keep me safe. Despite everything, I know the kind of man Gio is. He’s the kind of man I want beside me for the rest of my life. I think he wants me too, but I need to hear him say it. I’m desperate for those words.
The image of my father’s bleeding corpse keeps coming back to me.
I squeeze Gio’s hand, and he squeezes back. I have to hold on tightly or else risk falling into my waking nightmare. Gio can help me. I know he can. He’s been through this before. He’s killed before.
We pull up to his house, the gravel driveway rumbling beneath the tires. I get a good look at it for the first time, the only time, without any fear. It’s a beautiful house, built to look like a cabin, but I know it’s much bigger than it seems.
It looks like a home. I can just picture the porch swing. I look to my left at Gio and I wonder if he’d build one for me. He’s given me everything I’ve ever asked for. But things are different now.
They’ll always be different.
