Four perfect, perfect faces that deserved to live.
To be free.
Their lives joy.
Filled with grace.
“That should be everything you need.” I handed the stack to Mack.
He stuffed his gun into the back of his pants, almost grinning when I handed him the evidence that would put Lawrence and Reed away forever.
But he wasn’t smiling so big when he realized every single one of those documents also implicated me.
I was just as guilty.
My signature was on a ton of forged documents, my hands soiled, the proof clear in all the evidence I’d handed him.
“Shit, Ian,” he wheezed. “Fuck, what is this?”
I could see the outright war play out on his face, his mind scrambling to come up with a different solution when there was none to be found.
I lifted my chin before he could do something stupid like put himself on the line.
“They’re worth it,” I said.
There wasn’t even a tremor to my voice.
No wavering.
No question.
They were worth it.
“Are you sure?” Grief came out with his words.
I nodded tight. “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
Mack gulped hard when he moved to where I was standing by the desk, and I turned around and put my arms behind my back.
His voice was choked, barely heard. “You have the right to remain silent . . . “
He continued through the words as he wrapped the steel around my wrists.
Cinched them tight.
Tugged me upright.
From behind, his voice was at my ear, “I’m so fucking sorry, man, I’m so fucking sorry.”
“They’re worth it,” I whispered again.
My mother’s face flashed through my mind.
She was worth it.
In all these years, I’d never known it, Jace had never known. Maybe she’d been fighting for us all along.
Mack squeezed my shoulder. “I’m so damned proud of you.”
But I had none.
No pride.
Every goal, every aspiration had been wiped out.
Obliterated.
Loving Grace Dearborne had cost me everything.
And losing my freedom for hers was a small, small price to pay.
Forty-Four
Grace
Emotion ripped through the cold air.
Wild and frenzied and free.
I ran.
Straight out ran.
I didn’t slow until I dropped to my knees. I didn’t even care that they had to be bloodied from hitting the sidewalk.
Because Mallory was throwing herself in my arms. “Mommy.”
Her little arms wrapped tightly around my neck.
Sobs wracked from my soul.
Flooding.
Pouring out.
This uncontainable love.
I pressed my face into her hair.
Warmth and light.
Awe and joy.
So much joy.
I was weeping with it, unable to see when I stood, taking Mallory with me, clutching her while I ducked down to get Sophie out of her seat.
Movements frantic as I undid the straps of the car seat, hands shaking and shaking.
She was chanting, “Mommy home, Mommy home!” Clapping like it was just another day.
Little did she know this was the first day of the beginning of our new lives.
I couldn’t stop the tears as I gathered her close, my face in her hair, breathing her in, too.
My little handful that I wanted to forever have in the palms of my hands.
“It’s okay, Mommy. You don’t need to cry. Everything is okay. We’re home, and we get to stay forever and forever,” Mallory whispered, her voice hitching with her excitement, holding herself up high while I pulled Sophie out of the backseat of Mack’s car.
“Mal Pal.” It was the only thing I could get out around the clot of emotion locking up my throat.
Only thing I could get out around the outpouring of love.
The river of hope.
Everything. Everything.
A torrent of tears clouded my vision, but I was still moving, trying to get around the other side of the car.
Mack was already there, ushering Thomas in my direction.
I just stood there for a beat, watching my brave little man, his eyes a little haunted but brimming with his own hope.
For a few seconds, he just stood there, before he ran for me and threw his arms around my middle, burying his face in my stomach as he began to weep. “Mom. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I settled the girls onto the ground beside me so I could get back on my knees in front of my son. I took him by the outside of both of his arms, forcing him to look at me.
To see me.
To understand.
“None of this was your fault, Thomas. None of it. Not for a second. You are so brave. So very brave, and I couldn’t be more proud of you. Do you understand?”
Through his tears, he nodded, and I gathered him back up again, squeezing him so tightly, my chest so full.
I fumbled to reach for the girls, pulling them into the same embrace.
Holding my babies close to me.
To the pound of my heart and the well of my devotion.
My voice was a haggard promise. “Mommy is the one who is sorry you all had to go through this. But I promise you, you’re safe now. You don’t have to worry about anything. Not anymore.”