Page 111 of Revenge (Elite of Elmwood 3)

The next few weeks were dull. I loved every second of it. Well, recovering from being shot wasn’t a walk in the park, but being able to breathe effortlessly without worrying about what Carter would do next was freeing in ways that were hard to put into words.

There was one part of my life that still dangled like a cut piece of string. Sometime during my recovery, I decided to close this last unfinished chapter of my life. It was then I’d be able to move forward with no regrets.

“This is what you want?” Brock asked, eyeing me cautiously. His dark hair had that naturally messy look I loved.

I nodded. “You can stop treating me as if I’ll break. I’m okay, Brock. Seriously. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

His lips twitched. “Watching your girlfriend get shot does something to a guy. I’m not ready to watch you get hurt again. Even if it is just emotionally.”

Laying my head on his shoulder, I let myself bask in the warmth provided, both inside and out. “It might hurt to say goodbye, but I need this to truly heal.”

“I know. I just really wish I could take the pain for you,” he replied, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Brock, you’ve done enough.” He carried too much guilt from that night. I knew he blamed himself, but the only person at fault was Carter. And he would get his judgment.

He touched his lips to mine. “I love you, Firefly.” I lost count of the number of times he said those three big words, but I never grew tired of hearing them.

“So fucking much,” I added, kissing him back. “By the way, you can’t just say that every time you don’t want to talk about something.”

A soft smile crept over his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Angie’s trial was this week and getting way more press than I wanted. Reporters had taken to camping outside the Academy in hopes of getting a picture of me or talking to my peers, who were way too eager to spill dirt on me.

The Elite shielded me when they could from the reporters. Rushing me into the car, blocking me from photos. Between Angie’s kidnapping charges and Carter’s arrest, Kenna and I were on every local headline. It had even made state and national news, thanks to the uniqueness of our situation. Not every day a kidnapped victim was returned home after nearly eighteen years. Of course, people were intrigued and wanted to know more about our story.

I just wanted to be normal. That hadn’t changed, but I’d come to accept normal would never be a part of my life.

In some warped way, I was thankful to Angie. Without her destroying her marriage to Easton and tying the knot with Steven, I never would have met Brock, never would have found my family.

For that alone, I couldn’t hate her.

This would be my final goodbye. I was closing the chapter on this part of my life, and regardless of what the judge deemed a fitting punishment, Angie would stay in the past.

I had a bright future with Brock and the Elite.

Brock leaned on the edge of his new Land Rover. It was similar to the old one and fit Brock’s style. I couldn’t see him driving anything else. “You don’t have to do this,” he said, again allowing me to bow out.

“I know, but I do need to.” It was how I moved forward. Reaching for his hand, I laced our fingers together for a moment, needing to touch him. “I couldn’t do this without you. Thanks for coming.”

“I’m just glad for once you didn’t try to come alone.”

I chuckled, and it took a tad of the edge off. “I can still kick you out of here.”

An impish grin touched the corner of his mouth. “I’d like to see you try.”

My chest rose and fell as I exhaled, steeling myself.

I stared at the Pattersons’ house, lost in an abundance of feelings. Nothing but bricks, wood, stone, and nails. Yet for me, it stood for so much more.

This house changed my life for both good and bad.

Evil breathed inside those walls, and the people who dwelled there went to great lengths to keep that evil hidden.

It was out now for all to see… thanks to the Elite.

Kenna finally faced the monster who tormented her, who fucked up her life just as he had a hand in reshaping mine.

But I wasn’t here for Carter. It was only because he sat behind bars that I felt safe showing up at all, and knowing that Brock waited by the car also made me brave.

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