Knox’s grip loosens. “How about we clean you up?”
I nod, and struggle to keep myself standing upright as exhaustion swamps me.
“Whoa.” Griffin catches me. “I’ll carry you.” He sweeps me up into his arms, and I let him.
“If you insist,” I mutter, snuggling into his warmth.
“Always.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
RAVEN
The radiating heat from the small bonfire Griffin and Knox built in the backyard warms my body despite the chilly night. It’s the first cool night of fall, and Noah said s’mores sound yummy, so obviously Griffin and Knox made it happen. They’re going to spoil him rotten. But if anyone deserves some spoiling, it’s Noah.
“Can I have another one?” Noah’s face is covered with marshmallow and chocolate. He wiggles excitedly in his camping chair.
At my side with his arm around me, Knox grins at Noah’s eagerness. “Are you sure you can handle it?”
Noah nods his head with a certain zest only a six-year-old can summon.
I use my mom voice to sound firm. “Last one, okay?”
“Uh-huh,” Noah says as he adds another marshmallow to his skewer.
Griffin sits on my other side, tracing his fingers up and down the scars decorating my arms. The scratches from Scarlett have left a permanent mark on my skin.
After Griffin and Knox pulled me away from her, they washed all the blood away. With the lack of a sheriff, the Mystic River police officers took longer than usual to get to the fairgrounds, giving us ample time to formulate and execute a plan of action. Griffin hid Scarlett’s body in the back of his truck, so we could dump it later. While Knox and I planted Scarlett’s gun on Trey, making it look like Trey shot and killed Lewis. Thankfully, we were interviewed by Officer Langston when he arrived, and he seemed to buy our story.
And once again, Knox wouldn’t let the EMT touch me and used their supplies to bandage me. I made him stop when I started to resemble a mummy. Then we called Benny, who did indeed get Noah and Kat out of the carnival when the screaming started.
When we were reunited, we ended up with Griffin and Knox at their house. Noah admitted he didn’t want to go back to our house, and with Griffin and Knox wrapped around his little finger, they moved us in with them.
The library has reopened, but I no longer work there. I’m strictly a bartender, but I still visit the library to check out smutty books.
A large-scale investigation was launched into Mystic River Psychiatric Hospital. Law enforcement found multiple cases of medical abuse, and the charges just keep piling up. The hospital has been shut down.
Since then, it’s been nothing but peace and quiet.
Griffin puts together two graham cracker squares with extra chocolate on a plate. “Alright, little man. I think your marshmallow might be done.”
Noah takes the offered plate and assembles his treat. I watch him, locking this memory of a happy Noah in my mind. Noah starts nodding off before he can finish his s’more.
Knox chuckles as Noah leans back in his chair and passes out.
Resting my head on Knox’s shoulder, I watch the fire sway. Through the flames, I catch a glimpse of my brother. But this time, his face is bright, and his mouth is stretched into a smile. He stretches his hand forward, offering me a white chrysanthemum. My eyes fill with tears as he drops the flower into the flames and fades into the night.
Griffin’s hands cup my face. “Everything okay?”
I lean into his touch. “Everything’s perfect.”
Knox draws me closer. “Then why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy.” My smile is faint but sincere.
“Then cry away, Sunshine, because the rest of our lives are going to be filled with many more moments like this.”
EPILOGUE
