Page 53 of The Beast

“For helping me come home.”

The ever-present tears stream down my face, which he wipes away with his fingers and says softly, “Did you really think you’d get away from us, angel? Your brother gave us strict instructions, remember?”

I nod, laughing, “I do remember. I remember how happy I was here living with you guys. Not all the time, but most of it.”

I turn when another familiar face steps into view and I say slightly shyly, “Malik. It’s good to see you.”

Of all the guys, he is the least emotional, and it surprises me the most when he pulls me roughly into his arms and sighs with relief. “At last. Welcome home princess, we missed you.”

As we hug it out, four more men force their way in, and we must look a disturbing sight all huddled together like a football team at the Super Bowl.

After a while, I say slightly breathlessly, “Did somebody say pizza?”

As the others drift off, one man remains and as I fall naturally by his side, I’m so happy I could cry. I’m back where I belong, with the people who love me the most but there is an overwhelming sadness that is reminding me this isn’t over yet.

CHAPTER30

ALESSANDRO

Watching Winter laugh again is the best sight in the world. For one night only we are the kids we were back at Rockwell. Chilling out, eating pizza and laughing, something that’s been on short supply these past few years. It’s as if the storm has broken and rain is drenching our battered souls. We did it; we brought down the madness that still goes by the name Massimo Delauren.

Winter laughs at something Flynn says, and I don’t even mind that his arm is draped across her shoulders as he whispers his usual shit in her ears.

Angelo takes the seat beside me and throws me a beer. “Thank fuck it’s all over.”

“Are you sure about that?” He raises his eyes at my question, and I jerk my thumb in Winter’s direction.

“She’s still suffering.”

“How?” Angelo’s low growl matches how I feel inside, and I sigh heavily. “She’s lost her memory and even though parts of it are resurfacing, there’s still a lot of shit she’ll have to deal with. Who knows what that fucker put her through and when she remembers, it may throw up a whole set of new problems.”

“That we will deal with.” Angelo’s voice is rough and filled with warning because he will do anything to keep that smile on Winter’s face. “What’s she said?”

I shrug. “Just that there’s something important she can’t shake. It’s as if something is blocking her memory and it’s vital she remembers.”

Angelo shrugs. “It’s understandable. I mean, I’ve never lost my memory, even though I’ve wished it countless times.”

“You don’t mean that. It’s the past that makes us determined to do better in the future.”

Angelo shakes his head. “We’ve all lived with shit, and I can’t see that changing anytime soon. It’s how you deal with it that matters now.”

“Talking of shit. What are you going to do with Massimo?”

I’m interested because I believe his stay at my grandfather’s home will be a short one, and Angelo grins.

“Tomorrow, a plane is taking him back to Los Angeles. There’s an institution that has his name on one of the doors.”

“An institution?”

Angelo grins. “It’s where madness lives. A hospital of sorts for patients who can no longer care for themselves. Massimo will fit right in, and I’ve reserved him a spot with ordinary people surrounding him, which he will absolutely hate. He will be kept alive for as long as possible with only the odd visit from yours truly to bring him up to date on how happy his ‘wife’ is with her new husband while they live in his home and profit from his business.”

“And?”

It’s not enough and Angelo shrugs. “You can always pile on the misery by visiting him yourself. I have been assured by the doctors there is nothing they can do for him. He is permanently paralyzed and in a state of locked-in syndrome. He can’t even eat and will be fed through a tube for the rest of his miserable life, and yet his brain functions normally.”

“Do you really believe he has a normal brain?”

I roll my eyes and Angelo nods, casting a tortured look at his sister, who appears a lot happier now.

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