Page 58 of Madness Behind the Mask
Trapping in the next scream, I plant a kiss on her head. It lolls backwards, unsupported in any way.
Sniffling, I go to place her down on the ground so I can finish punishing David for his crimes, but I cannot bring myself to let her go.
To fail her a final time by leaving her alone in her death.
Closing my eyes, I stand.
Shudder in a deep breath.
The bathroom door flings open, catching me off guard, and I turn on full adrenaline as Myershalf-enters. “Fuck, Caden. What have you done to Da–” He stops dead, both mid-step and mid-sentence, as his eyes drop to the bundle of joynowforever silent in my arms.
His face pales.
He pivots on his heels.
I want to call to him, to tell him David is mine. That I don’t want him dead. Don’t want him to get off that easily.
But the reaper is already gone.
And the door slams shut behind him.
Final.
Lethal.
David screams no more.
Twenty-One
HER
14August1947
I shudder in relief at the sudden silence. Although I wanted David to suffer, hearing his gurgled screams threw me back into those woods with Antonio. I bring my hands down from my ears, my arms shaking as I try to control my breathing. I don’t want Caden to think I am weak, that I can’t stomach even the sound of so much pain.
I rub my shoulders, trying to bring the warmth back into my bodyas I sit huddled on the big empty bed.
“I’m out of the woods,” I whisper. “I’m home.”
Caden has taken care of everything.
I have nothing to fear here.
Nothing will hurt me as long as I trust my husband.
Swallowing hard, ignoring the rapid pounding of my pulse, I keep my eyes on the door, waiting for his return.Waiting to jump up in joy and relief that the nightmare is finally over.
But when the bedroom door opens, and I stagger to my feet, forcing a smile to my face…the blood runs out of my cheeks,and I stumble to my knees.
Caden doesn’t catch me this time, his arms wrapped around a bundle ofyellowfabric cradled to his chest.
Ihit the floorhardas asobis wrenched from me. Even though I can’t see her face, I know she no longer breathes.
“Olivia…” I rasppast wobbling lips and a throat closed too tight to breathe. “What’s...how…?” I ask as I lift my eyes to Caden.
His hands are clean of blood. The fresh scent of soap hits me, and I instantly hate thecarbolicsmellthat clings to him. I hate the silence that sears between us. I hate the color yellow. I hate the helpless look on his face. I hatehim. He promised me… He promised me that he would protect me. That I would never be hurt again.
My eyes fall to my still daughter, and the most pain I have ever felt hits me all at once. “Youpromised,” I scream as a sob rushes from my throat. “Youpromised me.”
