Page 117 of Bloodlust

She deserves to fly.

"Maybe it's time to forgive yourself," I say, lifting my hand up and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. I don't want to stop touching her. I don't want to sever the connection. She gasps, closing her eyes as I trail my fingers along her cheek. But I need to stop. "We are only human."

"Sometimes I don't feel human," she breathes. "I feel like a ghost."

I swallow, taking a step back. "I don't think you're a ghost, Miss Bianco."

"What am I then?" she asks. "Tell me."

"I need to get home," I state, pulse quickening.

She's not a ghost.

I can see her.

Every piece of her.

"Camilla was like a sister to me," Zoey whispers, swallowing as she takes the podium. She fidgets, clearing her throat. "She was always, umm... She was always there for me. She always took care of me. She, uh…She loved me with all her heart." Zoey bites her lip. "Despite what people said, Cami… Cami was a really good person." She glances at the priest, nodding as she steps away.

"Alpha Team on standby," Conrad radios into my ear. "T-minus two minutes."

"Ready on your count," Fitzgerald replies through the intercom. "Malcolm?"

"Ready," I state, taking one more look at the photo of Camilla.

Shewasa good person.

She just needed a chance to show it.

"Come on, Fitz," I beg, chasing him down the hallway. "I can do it. I can turn her. Just give me a few days. Look." I shove stacks of bank statements in his hand, tone laced with urgency. "I traced the wire payments from five years ago. The hit on her boyfriend came from the inside. Just look at it, goddamn it."

Fitzgerald clicks his tongue, handing me his coffee as he flips through the pages. "Hmm..."

"If we can get her to turn state witness," I say in a hopeful tone. "This case will be unbeatable. You'll get your win, Fitz. That's what you want, right?"

We'll get a win.

And she'll get her freedom.

Her life.

"Today, we lay our beautiful daughter to rest," Tony says, Maria joining his side in front of the casket. She holds the urn as he removes the top, grabbing a handful of ashes. "From ashes to ashes, from dust to dust. You'll rise again, in this I'll trust. You're in our hearts, 'til the end. We will meet again, depart..."

It's hard to see someone you love die.

But sometimes...death is necessary.

The Camilla Bianco they're talking aboutisdead.

"Ten seconds," Conrad mumbles, and I snap my gaze toward the crowded trees, a silhouette wrapped in white chiffon floating toward us in the distance. "Wait for the call."

Sheneededto die.

My chest rises with longing, with desire, with pride that I get to bear witness to her resurrection, rebirth, revival.

The womantheyall knewhasdied.

And from her own ashes, a new kind of angel has risen.

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