Seraphina smiles. “My family and I have two venom sacs. One is lethal and one isn’t. We can use both or one at a time. So my snake used a little of the lethal one and more of the non lethal. That way they’d get really sick and the lethal part would make them think they were dying.”
“That’s so cool.”
“Randall wanted to shoot Seraphina, but Julian told him not to because he was afraid he would shoot him. And he probably would’ve. He was really out of his mind. And I’m pretty sure they did all those murders.”
“What makes you think that?” Francesco asks.
“Julian said that he had finally gotten Randall to agree to keep me. That he promised not to kill me.” I purposely leave out the sharing part.
“Well, that’s not all he said,” Seraphina says as she looks at me.
I take a deep breath. “He said they agreed to share me. But he was okay with that because I wouldn’t die.”
I feel Michel’s arms tighten around me.
“Can I ask something?”
“Sure.” Sebastiano answers.
“Are they going to die?”
“If they did those murders? We’ll have to turn them over to the authorities. If we don’t, they could trace them back to us and that never works out well.”
I nod as I listen. I’ve never been a violent person. But I want them to die, I don’t want to worry that they’ll come after me again.
“I know what you’re thinking. But they’ll never come near you again. They’ll spend the rest of their lives in jail, sadly Colorado doesn’t have the death penalty,” Francesco explains.
I really hope they’re right. When I listened to Randall today, I finally saw the side of him that he was hiding, I also saw a side to Julian that I never thought I’d see. Up until today, I held out hope that Julian didn’t have a part in any of this. But now I know he did.
EPILOGUE
Genevieve
It’s been three months since my world turned upside down. Julian and Randall are now in a maximum security prison in Colorado. From what Sebastiano told me, they’re each in their own solitary cell. They haven’t gone to trial yet, but Randall told them what they did. They considered putting him in a psychiatric ward. But the Lake Renegade family talked to the prosecutor and brought up the fact that he could escape. And they agreed with them. I told Michel and our Lake Renegade family that I want to be there when they go to trial. I need that closure in my life, and Michel agreed with me.
Abigail is back at work, after a few weeks off. When I talked to her, she told me that she refused to be scared. That if she stayed home, she was giving the brothers power over her. I admire herstrength so much.
Michel and I finally found a cute little house to live in. The best part is that it’s just down the street from his family. I love being here in Storyville even more, now that I have the Rousseau family. And Michel? Every day he shows me how great of a man he is. And how lucky I am to call him mine.
Being with his family helps me miss my family a little less. His maman makes comfort foods that my maman made for me back home. My family plans on coming back to Storyville later this year. I still haven’t told them everything that happened. And I don’t know if or when I will. They’re all still worried about me and I’d hate to add to that. I’m fine, and there’s nothing they can do except worry.
Michel and I are planning a trip to Lake Renegade. I can’t wait. They’ve sent pictures and Luciana and I have been texting a lot. I’m excited to meet her twin sister and all of the women in the families.
“Maman asked us to come for dinner tonight.”
“Mmm. I love your maman’s food. We should stop by the store and grab something. Maybe a fruit plate? I know your maman says not to. But I always feel so bad that I don’t bring things.”
“Well, my sisters don’t even help her cook.” He laughs.
“I need to learn to cook. Maybe we can go early? And I can help her cook instead. I’ll text her.”
Michel
I check my pockets and make sure I have everything I need for tonight. I’m nervous, and I’m never really nervous about things.
“Are you ready?” Genevieve calls out to me.
“I’ll be right there.”
