Page 47 of The Devil's Demise

“Well, if you hadn’t gotten in your car and driven up to the center to see me that night, I would’ve gone back to my pimp. I have a feeling I wouldn’t have come back.” Tears coat her eyes, but she clears her throat. “I would’ve ended up dead. I know that’s where my life was heading. But you . . .” Her palm lands across her chest. “You loved us. You helped give us a new life.”

My arms circle around her and I hug her to me. “You’re an amazing person, Elena. You always have been. You just needed some reminding.”

I hear her sniffle as she tightens her own arms around me.

“You deserve to be happy.” My mouth widens into a small grin as I pull away. “And I know that with Brandon, that wonderful husband of yours, and those two kids who adore you, you truly are.”

“I am.” Her sigh is deep and content. “Speaking of kids, I gotta go pick them up from the sitter. It’s good to see you guys.” She grabs her duffle bag, slinging it over her shoulder. “Come out to eat at the restaurant next weekend. All of you. I’ll make whatever you want.”

“You spoil us.” I grin. “We’ll be there. Tell Brandon I said hello and the girls too.”

“I will. Tell everyone I said goodbye.”

“Take care.”

She starts for the gate, and I make my way back, but Elliot stops me.

“You leaving?” I ask him, finding him without Layla, his wife, and Madison, his nine-year-old daughter.

“Nah, just gotta get something for Layla from the car.”

“Oh good.”

We both smile at one another, and then he marches away, and I do the same. I only make it a few steps before he stops me.

He turns to me just as I twist toward him. “You ever think about our life now and wonder what it would’ve been like had you not . . .” He trails off, but I know what he wanted to say.

“No.” I smile softly. “Because no matter what I went through, everything is how it was meant to be.” I walk up to him and place a hand on his arm.

“Yeah, you’re right.” His gaze zeros in on me in concentration. “I’m glad we got a second chance, Jade.” There’s much sincerity and love in the cadence of his voice.

“Me too.” Emotions riddle through me.

I wish you were here, Mom.

PART IV

MATTEO & AIDA

CHAPTER1

MATTEO

ONE YEAR LATER

A few months ago,we all went to the zoo. Yeah, I know, a bunch of grown men at the zoo. But it was on the bucket list that Enzo had me create a while ago. It’s filled with all kinds of things most people in this world have probably done without even thinking twice, but for me, everything is new. Like looking up at the stars, getting licked by a dog, going to the beach, going on a swing. My list would probably look ridiculous to anyone else, but it’s mine. All the things I have wanted to experience, but never got the chance. Enzo did help me with it.

So, we took the trip to the zoo, the ladies with us. It was okay. As okay as it is looking at a bunch of animals living in a cage, thinking they’re free. But they’re not. Not really. But at least it seemed like they were being well taken care of. But Aida and me, our cage was smaller. The people who hurt us a lot more vicious.

We saw some snakes too, shedding their skin, and I wondered if people can be that way, shedding layers of the rot built on their flesh. Wouldn’t that be something? To just excise it all out. Like it was never there at all. To taste, to feel that freedom. That first breath with nothing holding you back.

I’m nothing like the snake though. I still carry the weight of the past, like it never left at all. Will I ever live a normal life? I appear normal, I think. But inside, I’m not. If it weren’t for Aida, I wouldn’t feel like myself at all. Having her, loving her, it saved me. And it still does.

Our love for one another has only gotten stronger. The bond we formed, the one we share only gets harder to break with each passing day.

We both still have nightmares, and somehow, we ease each other out of them, slowly—whispered words, soft caresses—until we no longer feel the darkness, until it’s no longer holding its deathly grip over our hearts.

She convinced me to go to therapy with her months ago—the same woman Jade introduced her to. I can’t say she isn’t helping, though it took me a while to even talk. I kind of just sat there while she talked instead. She’s good at her job because eventually I opened up. We were able to tell her everything we’ve been through. She’s used to people with our past. It’s what she does. It was freeing to give my past to another.

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