Page 184 of Cruel Steps

Owen’s eyes spit murder at me and Colter, but I didn’t care. I was safe now. They’d found me, just like I knew they would. Holden’s hand wrapped around mine, and I looked up to find him next to Colter. Worry etched his face, but when I met his aquamarine eyes, I saw relief and love—so much love.

Other noises permeated the space, and I glanced back at Owen as two police officers handcuffed him, reading him the Miranda rights. Holden tugged me closer, wrapping his arm around me and Colter, smothering me into his chest and blocking my view. My body shook, but it took me a few minutes to realize it wasn’t from me.

Pulling my arms free, I soothed Holden and Colter, letting them know I was there. “I’m okay. I fought back to buy time until you found me. And you did. We’re safe now. He’s gone. We don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Colter was the first to pull back, his eyes watery as he peered at me. He brushed his thumbs over my face. Holden still had me plastered to his chest, his head buried in my hair. Colter didn’t comment, accepting it as it was. We both knew he would struggle with this the most. His need to protect me had been ripped away, and it would take a while for him to calm down. We all would, if I was honest.

“Emerson!” my dad shouted. Colter turned so I could see my dad, Rose, Hope, Cody, and Taylor behind them as they approached us. There were police everywhere, and Detective Jennings was talking to Officer Smith.

My dad stopped in front of me, his hands hovering like he wanted to touch me, but didn’t know if he should. Colter shifted to my side, keeping his arm around my waist like he feared I’d disappear again if he wasn’t touching me. I didn’t mind. I needed their touch as much as they needed mine.

“I’m fine, Dad.”

Everyone stared at me like I’d grown two heads, and I wondered if I looked worse than I knew. I glanced down at my body, but couldn’t see anything that would warrant their looks. My body felt bruised and a little battered, but he hadn’t hurt me. Not really.

“Miss Adams, can you tell me what happened?” Detective Jennings asked, stepping into view. Holden growled into my hair and turned his head. I could only imagine the death glare he was giving her, but she didn’t even flinch.

“I, um, it was, um?—”

“Can she do this another time?” Rose asked. “She’s been through so much already.”

“I’m afraid not. Details will be the freshest now, so getting a report is important.”

“It’s fine,” I rasped and smiled at Rose in thanks. I took a deep breath and pushed all my emotions aside, reminding myself it was over. It was done. I was back with the people I loved, and Monsieur Owen wouldn’t be able to hurt me anymore.

So I told her how he’d grabbed me, that I’d dropped my poms to give a trail, and that he’d been living in what I believed was a janitor’s closet deep in the stadium. I mentioned the wall of pictures, and how he planned for us to marry and leave the US. I said it all in a detached voice, barely a whisper.

“Thank you, Miss Adams. I’ll be in touch if there’s anything else.” She nodded and directed a few officers to follow her down to where I’d said. Officer Smith gave me a kind smile and stepped up to our circle.

“I hope when you think back on this day, you remember the badass you were. A whole stadium cheered for you at halftime, breaking years of tradition and electing you as their representative. Instead of hiding or running like those girls wanted, you held your head high and proudly marched out there. You showed thousands of people your soul, sharing with them your beauty and making them not feel so alone.”

“But he still took me. I couldn’t stop it.”

“That’s not your fault,” Holden said.

“It’s not yours either,” I whispered.

“You did everything you could,” Officer Smith cut in. “Hold on to that when the adrenaline wears off and you’re remembering the fear. Look at your bruises and recall how brave you were. How hard you fought. You are a badass, Emerson Adams. Don’t ever forget that.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and handed it to me. “If you ever need anything, I’ll be there, no questions asked.”

He walked off, our group stunned at his words. “What’s it say?” Taylor asked, pointing to the paper.

I opened it, finding a kid’s drawing. It was like a comic book with multiple squares. In the first square, a stick figure with a crown on her head and pom-poms at her feet was shown. In the rest, a little girl holding hands with her dad, who wore a badge, was shown. There were bubbles by their heads. My eyes welled up as I read them, and I brushed aside a tear so it wouldn’t fall onto the paper.

“What does it say?” Cody asked, peering around the group.

“Daddy, I want to be like Mer.”

“I thought you wanted to be like me? That I was your hero?”

“I can have two heroes,” Colter read, picking up where I stopped. “Mer doesn’t let the bullies win, and she has two boyfriends.”

“I’m not sure I want you to have two boyfriends,” Hope read, stepping up.

“Mer does, so I can, too. I can do anything if I believe, just like Mer.”

“Badass,” Holden said, pulling away from me.

Everyone laughed, the tension easing at the words. Warmth spread through me, erasing the chill that had set in, and I clutched the paper to my chest. I didn’t know this little girl and probably would never meet her, but she saw me as a hero. I didn’t feel like I measured up to that yet, but I wanted to. I’d unlocked so many beautiful things by stepping out of the fear. I just had to believe in myself and that I was worth it.

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