My mother is taken away in a body bag. The floor is cleaned, removing all traces that she was ever even here. Even the security footage will be erased. It will be a perfect murder.
She will disappear off the face of the earth.
It will be like she never existed.
It's hard to imagine a world without her. She's ruled over us for so long that it's going to feel strange with her gone. My sisters and I no longer have to live in fear.
"So much is changing," I say, holding him close to me. "A part of me thought I would really lose you, Dante. It felt too good to be true."
"You're never getting rid of me," he says.
"Even when the contract ends?" I ask, looking up at him.
"I tore up those papers weeks ago," he says. "You're all mine now. You have been since the moment I laid eyes on you."
There's a darkness in his eyes that should scare me. But I happen to like the possessive side of him. I like it when he goes all caveman on me.
"Kiss me," I whisper.
There are people all around us, but he tugs me even closer. He kisses me like we're the only two people in the world. I'm almost lightheaded when he pulls away.
I blink up at him.
"Thank you for doing this for me," I say. "You have no idea how much it means for my sisters and me.”
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Thank you for trusting me enough to confide in me," he says.
One of his men sprays disinfectant on a nearby table, then wipes it down. It's probably to get rid of DNA.
"Does this mean that I'm an accomplice to murder now?" I ask, looking back at Dante.
"Yes," he says. "You're my little criminal now."
He kisses the tip of my nose before capturing my lips again.
I melt into my husband’s strong arms.
I’m safe here.
I always will be.
42
GRACE
SIXTEEN HOURS AGO
He pulls me closer and presses a kiss against my neck.
I squeeze my eyes shut. I want to stay wrapped up in his warmth forever. I don't want to leave.
"Grace." He whispers my name into the dark. "What's going on, baby?"
His hand is pressed over my heart now.
I have to lie to him. I can't risk anything bad happening to him. I can't risk losing him.
