Page 228 of Deviant

I would follow him anywhere.

Even to the ends of the earth.

Epilogue

Elias

Three years later

“This way, Mr. Scott,” Anton, the coordinator of the mental facility ushers in his thick Austrian accent.

With my hand on the small of my woman’s back, we walk through the spacious corridor, taking in the various natural light-filled rooms in the facility.

“We must say it was a surprise when we received your call earlier this week. Not many donors are as eager as you are to visit our facilities.”

“I’m the kind of man who likes to see firsthand where his money is going,” I reply with a clipped tone, gaining a side-eye glance from the love of my life.

“Yes, of course. And it’s very prudent that you do so. We hear horror stories about people being scammed out of fortunes when donating to various obscure charities all the time.” The man shakes his head. “Out of curiosity, what is it that you do exactly?”

“I fail to see how that is your business.”

“What my husband means to say is that he dabbles in the stock market. He has a thing for numbers and has always been very apt at judging how things will play out before they actually do.”

Husband.

Fuck, but I love it whenever she calls me that.

We’ve been married going on three years now, and that shit never gets boring to me.

“Ah, exciting work, I’m sure.” Anton nods seeming impressed.

If by exciting, he means me quadrupling Rowen’s Scourge winnings just by pushing a few buttons on a computer, then yes, I can say it has its merits.

“And what do you do, Mrs. Scott?”

“Oh please, call me Harper,” my Roe says sweetly, batting her eyelashes at Anton as the real Harper would have.

When we went underground, we had to choose different names just so those fucking dipshits of the hosts wouldn’t find us. I really didn’t care what the rest of the world called me, just as long as my woman would always shout my real name when she came. But one day, when we were walking the streets of Buenos Aires—just one of the many locations we hid out in—Roe suggested something.

“I think our permanent names should be Andy and Harper. If anyone deserved a happier ending than the one they got, it was them.”

“So each day, they’ll get to live the life they always wanted. even if it’s through us, is that your plan?”

“I could think of worse ways to honor our friends.”

“So could I, sweetheart. So could I.”

Later that week, when we boarded the plane to fly to Spain, Andy and Harper began living their happily ever after, and they never looked back.

“I dabble here and there on a few projects.” She smiles with a mischievous glint in her eye.

And by projects, she means trying to get the word out on the shit that happens in Blackwater Falls without getting caught. Reddit is filled with conspiracy theories about our small town existence and what happens there, largely in part because of Rowen slipping information to True Crime junkies. So far, she hasn’t had any real success in putting a stop toThe Scourgesince its organizers are very good at clearing their tracks and making sure that Blackwater Falls is nothing but a mythical place, but that doesn’t keep her from trying.

“But my real passion is philanthropic work. Like being a donor to such facilities like yours that deal with those struggling with their mental health.”

Anton’s eyes light up, finally understanding that she’s the one he should be smooching up to, not me.

“Well, please, ask me anything that you’d like. I’d be most happy to answer any of your questions.”

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