Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
I watched in grim silence as they loaded him into a waiting black SUV outside. My breathing had steadied, the murderous rage replaced by cold satisfaction. This man, who had caused Ellie so much pain, who had tried to use her even now, was facing justice at last. Not the clean justice of courts and prisons, but the brutal justice of men who understood the value of retribution.
“What should I tell Ellie?” I asked as the SUV drove away, taking Blackheart to whatever fate Miles had planned for him. “She needs to know, but I don’t have the heart. At least, not yet.”
Knuckles considered for a moment. “Give her some time. He’s gone. You can tell her the whole thing in a few days. Let her enjoy her Halloween.” He shook his head. “She doesn’t need to know the details.”
I nodded, more relieved than I wanted to admit I didn’t have to tell her that her father had tried to betray her one final time. He’d already taken so much from Ellie. Her family. Her safe space. Not only that, but he’d altered the course of her life. She fought back from the first betrayal. To know that he’d tried to take everything from her a second time might break her spirit. No. Knuckles was right. She needed this holiday and there was no way in fucking hell I was gonna let Tate Blackheart take anything else away from her.
“Go to her,” Knuckles said, clapping me on the shoulder. “She’ll need you when she wakes up.”
As I turned to head back to Ellie’s apartment, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. Tate Blackheart was gone, his shadow no longer darkening her life. Whatever happened to him now was out of our hands, and I found I didn’t much care what fate the Miles family had in store for him. All that mattered was Ellie and helping her heal from the wounds her father had inflicted.
The three black cats were waiting outside her door when I returned, their yellow and green eyes gleaming in the dim hallway light. For once, even Lucifer didn’t hiss as I approached. Instead, all three moved aside, as if granting me passage. I swear the little fuckers knew something had changed, that a threat had been removed and Ellie was now completely safe.
“He’s gone,” I told them softly. “And he’s never coming back.”
Binx meowed softly in what I chose to interpret as approval before following me into the apartment, the others close behind. As I slipped back into bed beside Ellie’s sleeping form, I pulled her gently against me, breathing in the scent of her hair. She murmured something unintelligible and nestled closer, unaware of what had transpired while she slept.
I would tell her everything after Halloween. Well, almost everything. But for now, I would let her sleep, safe and protected, while I stood guard against the darkness.
Chapter Ten
Ellie
I stood in the center of the park, clipboard in hand, directing the placement of the last giant foam spider with more enthusiasm than strictly necessary. Halloween had always been my salvation, and today, with orange and black streamers fluttering from every tree branch and hand-carved pumpkins lining the winding pathways, I felt more like myself than I had in a very long time. The toy drive banner stretched across the park entrance, announcing our charity event in bold orange letters against black fabric, exactly as I’d designed it.
“A little higher on the left side,” I called to Griffin and Riot, who were balanced precariously on ladders, securing the massive arachnid to an oak tree. Riot moved his side like I directed, but Caleb came up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him, and he winked at me.
“I don’t know, Ellie. Still looks lopsided to me.” Caleb tilted his head and squinted, like he was really studying the banner hard. “Move it a little higher, Riot.” Riot looked back at us before nodding once, then doing what Caleb said. “Now it’s a little too high.” Caleb stepped closer and held his hands up with his thumbs touching at the tips and his hands up on each side, like he was framing the thing up or something. “Yeah, go slightly lower and to the right.”
“Are you sure, Caleb?” Riot glanced back, then wobbled precariously on his unsteady perch. “Fuck!”
“Don’t fall!” I yelled out, taking a step forward, but Caleb put an arm in front of me gently. I glanced up at him, but Caleb shook his head with a mischievous grin before he winked at me.
“I ain’t gonna fall,” Riot grumbled as he made an effort to place the banner’s corner where Caleb told him. “How’s that?”
“Eh, when you lost your balance, it moved some. I think if you go a little farther to the right you’ll have it.” Caleb pointed the direction he wanted Riot to move the banner.