“Did you ever love me, Dad?” she whispers. “Did you ever see me as a daughter? Or was I always an object to you?”
“Of course I love you, Willow. From the day you were born.”
“And what about Mom? Did you ever love her?”
“Liana was the love of my life.”
“Then why? Why did you betray her? Why did you have her killed?”
Arturo shakes his head, his eyes bulging and glossed with tears. He looks truly pathetic, begging on his knees. “Willow, let me explain—”
“What’s there to explain? You’re a monster. Worse than a monster.”
“Forgive me,” he rasps. “This isn’t you. You’re not a killer, Willow.”
Her shoulder’s tense. I can’t see her face, but I can sense her conflict. Arturo’s right. Willow may be fierce, but I can’t imagine her crossing that line. She’s too good, too sweet to go through with it. I’m not at all surprised when she lowers the gun with a sigh, much to her father’s apparent relief.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” she says coldly. “I’m not going to kill you, but I doubt you’ll get very far with the Marrones Family after you.”
Arturo’s face blanks, his mouth dropping open in horror as Renata’s guards emerge from the house—totally unharmed and looking for vengeance. Arturo scrambles to his feet, no time to grab his cane.
“Run along,” Willow calls. “Since I’m feeling generous, I’ll give you a head start. How about five minutes?”
“Willow—”
“Four minutes fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven…”
Arturo turns, hobbling away as fast as he can. He frantically throws himself into the car he arrived in, struggling to twist the key in the ignition. When he finally gets the engine going, the man slams on the gas and peels away in a hurry. One nod from Willow is all it takes for the Marrones men to give chase.
And then we’re finally alone.
We’ve done it.
“What the fuck!” Anna shrieks, gawking at me like I’ve grown a second head. “What is going on? I swear to God, if I don’t get answers I’m going to kick something!”
Willow hurries over to me, tucking herself beneath my arm. “It’s a long story,” she admits. “I’m Willow. It’s really nice to meet you. I’m sorry it’s such a bad first impression.”
“Look,” Heath groans, “I’m happy we’re all alive and stuff, but I could really use a doctor.”
Behind us, a woman approaches. Natalia has her sniper rifle strapped to her back, casually flicking her ponytail over her shoulder. “You’re damn lucky I got your text when I did, Willow. You’re lucky I was only in town for groceries. That could have gone badly.”
Willow puts a hand on her hip. “It worked out, didn’t it?”
Natalia scoffs, hurrying over to check on Renata. She lightly claps her mother’s cheek. “Wake up, Mother. The hard work’s all done.”
Renata groans, her eyes fluttering open as she yawns wide. “What did I miss?” she asks, groggy.
“Let’s get you inside,” Natalia says, casting a glance at Heath. “I’ll call for a doctor. Try not to bleed all over the furniture, got it?”
We slowly file into the house, Natalia helping Renata take a seat in the living room while I check both Willow and Anna over for any injuries. Heath has sustained the worst of it, but I’m confident he’ll make a full recovery. Knox, on the other hand, looks shell shocked. It’s hard not to notice the way he stares at Natalia, fascination gleaming in his eyes.
“Who’s that?” he asks me under his breath.
“Willow’s aunt.”
“Hm,” is all he says, the tips of his ears bright pink. I don’t think he could be any more obvious.