Page 150 of Severed Rivalry
“Does that scare you?”
“A little.” My daughter shrugs and stares at her hands.
“Which part? That I would do it or that I’d get caught?”
“Both. But mostly the second one.”
“I don’t want to have to either, firecracker. But if it comes down to you or me? I’ll choose you. Same with your mom. So trust me to protect you, okay?”
She seems to think long and hard, and I have to say, I love it. She doesn’t just agree, she truly considers the options. “Okay.”
“Now, about the tacos…”
“Tacos?” She scrunches her face. “Can we have pizza instead?
Cian shrugs. “I’m good with it if your mom is.” He saunters down the hall.
“I like him.” Renée offers.
“Because he agrees to everything you want?”
“Because we’re safe with him, and he loves you.”
“Hate to break it to you, but he loves you too.” I kiss her cheek. “You want homemade or delivery?”
“Homemade.”
I slide off her bed. “I’ll get the toppings out. You come when you’re ready.”
“Okay. And Mom?”
I turn back in the door casing, my hand on the jamb. “Yeah, sweetie?”
“I love you.”
“To the moon and back, Née.” I tap the jamb and move down the hall.
45
imperfect and beautiful
Sariah
The long silver knife hovers aloft before it crashes between her legs. My daughter screams, and mine echoes hers.
“Angel. Angel, wake up. It’s a dream. It’s just a dream.” Warm arms squeeze around me, and I suck in a quick deep breath. There’s nojustabout it. The nightmares haunt me. Multiple times per night. And always about Renée.
“I’m so tired of this.” I roll to my back, Cian hovering above me. My nose tingles, and my throat closes. Tears pool and run down my temples. “When will my brain stop tormenting me?”
“It’s sorting things out. I still think you should talk to somebody. Let me find you a therapist.”
I shake my head, the tears gaining speed with the movement. “I don’t want to relive it.”
“Your mind has other plans. It needs to sort it out. Was this one about you?”
I shake my head. “It’s never about me.”
“You went through some shit, too, you know? Guessing Renée missed the part where I’ve already killed for you.”
