Page 90 of Say You're Mine

"We're with you," she says, her voice tight. "Always. But Cara... promise me you won't do anything reckless. That baby needs you in one piece."

A lump forms in my throat, unexpected emotion threatening to choke me. Despite everything, despite the madness I'm dragging them into, they're still here. Still my rock, my anchor in the storm.

"I promise," I say, meaning it with every fiber of my being. "I'm not looking for a fight. But I will do whatever it takes to bring June home."

As if on cue, the baby gives a strong kick. I press a hand to my swollen belly, a fierce smile curving my lips. "That's right, little one," I murmur. "We're going to get Daddy back."

The familiar ache of missing June threatens to overwhelm me. I close my eyes for a moment, letting myself remember. The warmth of his skin against mine. The rumble of his laugh vibrating through his chest. The way his eyes would darken with desire, turning molten as he...

I shake my head, forcing the memories away. Now isn't the time for sentiment or distraction. Now is the time for action.

"Let's go," I say, my voice ringing with a confidence I don't entirely feel. "It's time to show Elaine what happens when you mess with our family."

As we leave the apartment, a strange calm settles over me. The hallway that once seemed so ordinary now feels like a gateway to another world. A world where I'm not just Cara the artist, the expectant mother. A world where I'm something... more.

"So what's the plan, sis?" Song asks as we pile into his car. The leather seats stick to my skin, the summer heat turning the vehicle into an oven. "Please tell me you have one beyond 'storm the castle.'"

I roll my eyes, but there's no real heat in it. "Of course I have a plan. First, we need to get in touch with Dante. He has resources we're going to need."

Sonya's already pulling out her phone. "On it. What else?"

As I outline the basics of what we need to do, I can feel them watching me. There's a new wariness in their eyes, a realization that the sister they've known all their lives has changed irrevocably. Part of me wants to reassure them, to promise that I'm still me. But the larger part knows it would be a lie.

The truth is, I don't know who I am anymore. All I know is that I'll do whatever it takes to get June back. To keep our child safe. And if that means becoming someone my siblings barely recognize... so be it.

The city blurs past the windows as Song navigates the early morning traffic. Every street corner, every familiar landmark, seems charged with new significance. This could be the last time I see these places as a free woman. The thought should terrify me, but all I feel is a grim sort of acceptance.

"Cara," Sonya says softly, interrupting my dark musings. "Are you sure about this? I mean, really sure? Because once we do this... there's no going back."

I turn to her, taking in the worry etched on her face. For a moment, I see us as we were - two little girls playing at being grown-ups, dreaming of the lives we'd lead. How far we've come from those innocent days.

"I'm sure," I say, my voice low but firm. "This isn't just about June anymore. It's about our baby. About all the other women and children Elaine has hurt. Someone has to stop her, Sonya. And if not us, then who?"

She holds my gaze for a long moment before nodding. "Okay. Then let's do this."

As we pull up to the address Dante provided, my heart begins to race. This is it. The point of no return. I take a deep breath, one hand resting on my belly, the other brushing against the gun at my waist.

"Ready?" I ask, looking at my siblings.

They nod, faces set with determination that mirrors my own.

"Then let's go get my man," I say, pushing open the car door.

The summer air hits me like a wall, thick with humidity and the promise of rain. As we approach the nondescript warehouse, I feel a shift in the atmosphere. The quiet street suddenly feels charged, alive with possibility and danger.

I think of June, alone in some cold cell, fighting battles I can only imagine. I think of our child, growing stronger every day, oblivious to the war being waged for their future. I think of Elaine, sitting in her ivory tower, believing herself untouchable.

A slow, predatory smile spreads across my face. Oh, how wrong she is.

Chapter twenty-seven

June

The shackles bite into my wrists, cold and unyielding as the eyes that follow me into the courtroom. I feel their stares like brands on my skin, searing through the thin fabric of my jumpsuit. They're here for a show, to watch the freak dance for their amusement. But I'll give them more than that. I'll give them the fucking truth, raw and bloody and screaming.

I take my seat on the stand, the hard wood digging into my ass. The bailiff shoves a Bible under my nose, but I wave it away with a sneer. I've got no use for fairy tales and false promises. The only god I believe in is the one staring back at me from the mirror every morning.

"State your name for the record," the prosecutor says, all slick hair and shiny shoes.

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