Page 164 of All Your Hate

“Yes, Wynnie, I’m sure.” Summer rolls her eyes at her big sister.

“If anything’s still in there then you won’t be able to get it back.”

When we decided on a fresh start in a new home, Wynter made the point that everything we didn’t need we should sell and give the money to charity. I let her choose the organization and she found one that helps victims of sexual violence. I haven't told her, but I've also left them a large donation out of my own money.

After everything she’s been through all she wants to do is keep helping others. She’s so determined like that and I love her for it.

“I know!” Summer groans.

“Go on, do one last run of the house for your big sis to make sure,” I say, and Summer scowls at me for not taking her side.

“Fine,” she groans as she trudges back up the steps.

Everything that’s left in the house after today will be going to auction. Which includes everything in my sister's room. I’m finally moving on. All it took was the love of my two favorite girls to make me realize it was never the house I needed.

“How is it that she’s barely eleven and she’s already acting like a teenager?” Wynter sighs as she leans into my side and I wrap my arm around her.

“God help us when she’s actually a teenager,” I chuckle.

Wynter looks up at me, those blue eyes shining beautifully in the morning sun. “How are you feeling?”

How am I feeling?

I only have one word to describe how it feels to finally say goodbye to the house I’ve let haunt me for years. One simple word that means everything as I look into the eyes of the woman who saved my soul. “Happy.”

For the first time in fifteen years, I truly am happy.

I get to start over, build a life with my bride-to-be and the tiny girl who wormed her way into my heart.

When I first met Summer she was just a pawn to use, another piece on the board to help me secure my prize. I left her and Charlie alone in the cottage, only going there to bring them groceries and to check in.

It hurt to look at the girl that reminded me so much of the sister I lost. I tried to keep Summer at arm’s length, but for some strange reason the girl wasn’t scared of me. I used her for information, to find out anything new about Wynter, and find a way to win her heart. But along the way, the girl won mine. I never thought there'd be space in the desecrated organ for two people. Yet here I am. Content and full of love for my new family.

“Me too.” Wynter smiles at me. “Ready for one more goodbye?”

She squeezes my waist and I grab one of her hands, weaving our fingers together and bringing them to my lips. “I’m ready for anything when I’m with you, my love.”

Summer comes back down the steps with a sheepish look on her face and her hands behind her back.

“I knew it!” Wynter exclaims.

“I didn’t forget anything.” Summer side-steps around us so we can’t see her back. I put my hand on her head to hold her in place.

“Show me,” I say and she scowls at me again. When I raise my brows she gives in and holds out her unicorn plushie.

Leaving the pair of them to get into the car, I close up the house. Locking the door on the place that held my heart hostage for so long.

Our new home isn’t that far away from here. We’re still living in the city, but it’s closer to everything we need. My office, Summer’s school, and Wynter’s new college. She wanted to pick up where she left off with her studies and she starts next semester doing a mix of online and on-campus lessons.

We still do our extracurricular activities whenever we have time. Killing will always be in my nature and thankfully Wynter never lost her taste for it. Those that hurt her are long gone, but there’s plenty more scum that needs disposing of.

Just because we got rid of Dmitri doesn’t mean that the sex trafficking in this city has stopped. There are still girls going missing every day and Wynter is determined to help them all.

The moving truck drives off ahead of us to our new home. We have one quick stop to make on the way.

As we drive away from the house a tiny hole is left in my heart, but it’s immediately filled when I look at Summer and then Wynter. They are everything I didn’t know I needed.

The cemetery is peaceful when the sun is still shining. Its usual chill is gone and the light birdsong makes everything seem hopeful, like even amongst death life still finds a way to blossom.

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