Page 91 of Darkest Retribution

“Well, since you got out so early, I’m just gonna go.” She grabs her keys before turning and looking me up and down. “You seem... different.”

I smile. “I feel different.”

“Huh. Cool. See you Saturday?”

“Yeah. See you Saturday.”

I watch her go. When we leave, I’ll send her a text vaguely explaining that we’re moving. It’s the best I can do.

Once she’s pulled out of the driveway, I head upstairs. I dump the contents of the bag Sparrow gave me onto the bed.

It’s all here—new social security cards, birth certificates, a credit card, and my new driver’s license, complete with an address to a little house that Sparrow found for us.

There’s a copy of a lease as well, accompanied with a picture of a blue house with a blooming rhododendron out front. There’s a note that says that rent is paid through the end of next month.

The only other thing is a set of car keys and instructions to get to the car that’s in my new name.

Everything is set. All I have to do is pick up and leave.

I’m not even going to bother packing up the house. We’ll take what we need, plus whatever toys Rosie wants to bring. Adjusting will be hard for her, I know that, so I want her to have as many comfort items as she needs.

I sit on the edge of the bed. For months, this has felt so unreachable. Now that I have our new life literally laid out in front of me, it doesn’t feel real.

I glance out my window, my gaze snagging on Dominic’s house. One of his lights is still on, which is odd for this time of night.

How am I going to say goodbye to him?

If I could stay, I would. And for a second, I try to find some type of solution, but I give up before I even get started. The only way I’d be able to stay is if I killed David. And I just can’t bring myself to do it.

“Auntie Jade?”

I turn. Rosie is standing in the doorway of my bedroom, clutching one of her many stuffed unicorns to her chest.

“Hey, honey. You having trouble sleeping?”

She nods. “I went downstairs and Miss Ashley wasn’t there.”

“Yeah, she went home. C’mere.” I open my arms to her, pulling her onto my lap when she runs into them. “Oof. You’ve gotten so big, you know that?”

She grins. “I’m taller than most of my class.”

I laugh. “Good to know.”

My phone vibrates on the bed, and I grab it.

Stupid Face:Did you get the info?

Jade:Almost. Should have it within 24 hours.

I hope that’s enough time.

Stupid Face:I have more work for you. One of my guys will be dropping off the info soon.

Jade:It’s literally the middle of the night.

He doesn’t respond.Typical.

I put Rosie back to bed, although she doesn’t seem that tired. It only takes a few minutes before I hear a knock on the sliding door to the back porch.

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