Page 80 of Her Courage

I looked at the woman across from me—this stranger wearing my mother's face. Tried to find some remnant of the person she'd been before greed and narcissism consumed her.

Found nothing.

"I hope it was worth it," I said finally, rising from the chair. "The affairs. The spending. The lies. I hope whatever satisfaction you got from it was worth losing your children."

"Kaleb!" Her hands slammed against the glass again as I turned away. "Kaleb, don't you walk away from me! I'm your mother! You owe me! Kaleb!"

Her screams followed me down the corridor, bouncing off the concrete walls. But I didn't look back.

Couldn't look back.

Not anymore.

Sergeant Davies met us near the exit. "She's something else," he muttered, shaking his head. "For what it's worth, Mr. Wulf, you handled that better than most would."

"Thank you, Sergeant." My voice sounded hollow to my own ears. "What happens now?"

"Arraignment's set for Friday. Given the severity of the charges and her demonstrated flight risk, DA's pushing for no bail." He glanced back toward the holding cells. "She'll serve a long time, Mr. Wulf. Multiple counts of kidnapping, attempted murder, extortion—the judge won't be lenient."

Good. The word whispered through my mind, cold and certain. Let her rot in prison. Let her finally face consequences for once in her miserable life.

Marshall and I walked out into the afternoon sunshine. I stood on the courthouse steps, breathing in air that didn't smell like desperation and failure.

"You okay?" Marshall asked quietly.

Was I? I'd just cut ties with my mother completely. Walked away from the last thread connecting us.

And I felt... lighter. Like I'd been carrying a weight I hadn't realized was there until it was gone.

"Yeah," I said, and meant it. "I really am."

Marshall clapped me on the shoulder. "I'll keep on the DA about the maximum sentence. Between the kidnapping and the attempted poisoning, we're looking at serious time. She won't be bothering you or your family again."

"Thank you, Marshall. For everything."

"That's what lawyers are for." He grinned, the expression transforming his usually serious face. "Well, that and completely unnecessary billable hours. Speaking of which..."

I laughed—actually laughed—for the first time since Patrice had called about Keeley. "Send me the invoice. I'll have accounting cut a check."

"Already done." He winked. "I know you, Wulf. You'd forget otherwise."

We said our goodbyes. I climbed into Oscar's waiting car, sinking into the leather seats with a bone-deep exhaustion.

"Home, sir?" Oscar asked, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.

Home. Where Lottie, Andrei, and Colby were waiting. Where my family—my real family—would be ready to hold me when I fell apart.

Because I would fall apart. I knew that. The adrenaline keeping me upright would fade, and the reality of what I'd just done would crash over me like a wave.

But I also knew they'd be there to catch me.

"Home," I confirmed. "Take me home, Oscar."

As we pulled away from the courthouse, I caught a glimpse of Patrice through a barred window. She stood pressed against the glass, her mouth moving in what I assumed were curses or pleas.

I looked away.

Forward was the only direction worth going.