Page 65 of Last Breath

Holding onto him, not wishing to see this end the way he thinks it has to, I beg, “Come with me. Don’t leave me.” I touch my stomach. “Don’t leave us.”

“Joy—”

“No!” I’m emphatic. “No, you need to come with us and help me raise our child. Yours, mine, and Salem’s.” I still hear the police outside shuffling around, getting closer to our room, but until Mal says he’ll come with me, I’m not leaving. “We need to gonow. Please, come with me.”

Saying nothing at first, Mal turns to the clothing on the chair. As he starts to push pieces of his clothing into my escape bag, I think he’s changed his mind.

“Okay, Joy. I’ll come with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” Shouldering the bag, he turns me toward the bathroom door. “Now let’s go before they rush in.”

Chapter 36

Malachi

She’s skeptical, and totally worried that I’m not telling the truth. I had to. I need to make her leave. That child needs a chance and a better opportunity.

The cops are so close. Gathering clothing, money, and food, I start for the back of the room. Reaching the bathroom and popping the window, I stay silent. I know if I speak, there’s a chance I won’t go through with it.

Looking to make sure there’s no one out the back, I toss the bag out and sling a sweater over her head, pushing the bag out. “Come on, love. You first.”

Laughing, Joy squints. “Yeah, not happening. You out, then I will.”

“Joy—”

“Uh-uh. No. You first,thenI will.” Standing to the side, she motions. “Move it, Mal.”

Blowing out a hot breath, knowing she figured out my sinister plan, I smirk. “Fine.” As I move to the window, looking out the back, I see a bright flash in the scrub trees behind the hotel. Closing the window fast, flicking down the blind in a rush, I push Joy away from the open area.

“What the hell!”

“There’s a sniper in the bush. We can’t go out that way.”

Slumping down on the toilet, she places her head in her hands. “Shit. Well, I…well, crap!” Laying back against the toilet tank, she starts to laugh deeply. At first, it’s small and weak, then it’s deep and loud.

Perfect.

“Joy, you okay?” Not like she ever has been. “I just told you we’re trapped and you’re laughing.”

Slowing down until she grabs enough air to speak, she starts to sing.“You don’t own me. I’m not just one of your little toys. You don’t own me...You don’t own me.Now I understand Gran singing that line all the time. She was just as mad as I am.”

“Sweetie, you’re not mad.”

Rocking back and forth on the toilet seat, her song starts in earnest.“Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream. Make him the cutest that I’ve ever seen. Give him two lips, like roses and clover, and tell him that his lonely nights are over...”

Humming alone, Joy is lost to her own thoughts.

“Sweetheart?” I try. She doesn’t even notice me here. Her own insanity and mental shutdown has occurred. Joy’s lost.

“Joy?” Rubbing a hand down her cheek, I call her name a few times without an answer. Talking to her, I speak in low tones. “Honey, you’ll learn to love again. You’ll learn to live a normal life with a beautiful little girl that can give you peace. She’ll help you remember us. Remember we loved, lived, and that we were yours only.” Kissing her on the cheek as tears stream down mine, I rise. She’s still rocking on the seat, still singing, and still in her own head.

“I love you, Joy.”

Leaving the room and shutting the door, I know that what I’m doing is right. The future is in that child.

Grabbing the table, I push it against the door, effectively blocking her in. I’m happy with this outcome. Turning from it, looking out at the room, the carnage on the floor and the love of mine that’s died, I start for the open doorway that invites me to walk out.

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