Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 655(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Rhodes stood over me, clutching the frying pan in his grip. He dropped it next to his wife’s head and fell on me, gathering me in his arms. “Are you okay, baby?” That was the signal that sent Micah and Alex running out of the shadows.
They fell around me, hugging and kissing me all over as I just fought to breathe.
“We were waiting for you to say the code word,” Micah said, stroking my hair as Rhodes carried me away from the kitchen, the fumes, and Sue.
“But when I heard Sue shouting die, die,” Rhodes gruffed, “I had to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m... o-okay,” I croaked out. “But—”
I dissolved into a hacking, coughing fit. They were right. I spent too much time inhaling the fumes. I should’ve killed the bitch first and explained the rest to her corpse. “But you were r-right, Alex,” I wheezed. “Sue made a c-copy of the drive... and sent it to the police.”
The guys exchanged looks... and grinned.
Smirking away, Micah kissed me soundly on the lips and said, “Plan B it is, then.”
Final Chapter
The sun crested over the horizon, lighting the waves into an undulating blanket of shimmering sapphires. A stiff wind blew off the sea—cold and bracing like a bucket of chilled water over the head. I’d never been more awake, or more clear.
Beside me, Rhodes pounded the spokes—securing the tripod to the earth. It wouldn’t do for our final goodbye to blow into the sea.
Fingers slipped through mine, lacing up tight. I smiled wanly into Micah’s eyes.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly.
“I’m ready.” I peered over my shoulder at the manor freely burning to ash.
Flames greedily consumed the steepled roof and ornate gables. It climbed the towering turrets, blew out the stained glass windows, and ravaged the halls and rooms—secret or otherwise. The high ceilings crumpled. The delicately carved trim warped.
Before my eyes, my childhood home burned to the ground.
“There’s no turning back now,” I whispered. “By now, everyone can see the smoke in the air. I can already hear the sirens.”
It was true.
Sirens called faintly on the air—fire trucks certainly, but under their noise would most likely be police cars.
“Meaning we’re out of time,” Alex said, falling in on my other side. “Let’s do this.”
Nodding to us, Rhodes opened the video app, and pressed record.
The three of them wore the handsome, perfect white suits they wore the night of our anniversary—the last night we were all together, and happy.
For me, I wore a simple cotton gown and no shoes. I didn’t need them where I was going.
“Hello,” Micah began. “If you’re here and you’re watching this, then by now, you know what we’ve done. You know we stole the Thompson necklace—”
“—you know we funded GloryBoi with dirty money—” Rhodes continued, taking his place beside Micah. Together, we stood at the edge of the cliff.
“—and you know I’m Fritz Calloway,” Alex went on. “I killed my abuser when I was eleven years old, and the directors of the group home I lived in lied and covered for me, to save my chance at a future. A chance that’s over now.”
“For all of us,” I finished. “The police will be on their way to take my husbands from me, but no more. I’ve lost my parents, my sense of safety, and my hope in humanity. I won’t lose the men I love too. So, we’re leaving,” I rasped, my gaze falling down the long drop below. “Together.”
“We’ve already sent Lily on,” Micah gasped, choking on a sob. “Our sweet girl is truly among the angels now.”
“And now it’s time for us to go wherever we belong,” Alex announced as we all grasped hands.
“Goodbye.”
Launching off, we jumped.
I tried to hold it in, but broke in less than a second. I screamed.
Wind, water, and terror rushed into all of my wide, gaping orifices. My dress flew and slapped me in the face, covering my eyes and making the coming impact a horrifying anticipation.
We smacked the icy water and it immediately took its revenge. Water surged into my eyes, nose, and mouth—wrapping its unseen claws around me and dragging me down to its depths.
And then stronger, surer hands held me tight, and guided me to the surface.
Alex, Micah, and Rhodes wrapped around me—holding me safe and secure as the waves tried their hardest to bash us against the cliff face.
“Hurry!” She waved frantically from the boat, flinging life buoys at us like frisbees. “Grab on!”
We did one after the other, letting her strength and our feet power against the waves and help us onto the boat.
Mrs. Finley handed out the last towel as Micah climbed on. “How did it go?”
“Perfectly,” I chattered out. Damn, that water was cold! “But the fire trucks are already on the way. We need to be a speck on the distance before they arrive.”