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And I’m not going to stop her.
I reach behind me, retrieve the pistol from the waistband of my pants, switch off the safety, and hand it to her, watching as she wraps her fingers around the metal exactly as I taught her.
She stands on wobbly legs, her body swaying to the side.
I clasp a hand around her waist. “Maybe I should—”
“No.” She takes a deep breath, trying to find her balance. “I need to do this. But maybe…” She glances up. “I could use some help.”
I nod, keeping my hand secured around her waist to steady her as she walks forward. A tremble rushes over her with every step, but her bravery and determination don’t let her give up.
Stopping a few feet before him, she raises the gun, her chest panting fast and hard. Her eyes turn a shade darker as she gently presses her finger to the trigger.
“I can only hope that Hell has a cage waiting for you,” she says with resolve, her gaze on him never wavering. “May you never know freedom again.”
A grin forms on his face, his lips parting as if to say something, but he doesn’t get the chance.
Bang!
A clean shot directly between his eyes ends his miserable life.
Charlotte stands in shock for a few seconds, frozen in her stance with her arms straight out before her and the gun held in her grasp. I lightly press my hand on her arms, lowering them to her side.
She blinks and looks up at me, her eyes widening. “I did it. I really did it.”
“You did.” I take the gun from her, switch on the safety, and tuck it into my waistband. My palm cradles her cheek. “He’ll never hurt you again.” I lean forward and press our foreheads together. “I’m so proud of you, Fiorellina.”
She smiles, tears trailing down her cheeks, but her body sways, her knees buckling. “I don’t…” I secure an arm around her waist. “Feel good.”
She passes out, and I lift her in my arms, bridal style, rushing out the door toward a waiting SUV.
“What happened?” Leo asks, striding toward me.
“She passed out.” He opens the back door for me, and I slide her against the leather before climbing in and sitting beside her. “Get us home,” I tell him, carefully positioning her head on my lap. “As quickly as you can.”
He doesn’t wait. He jumps into the driver’s seat and steps on the accelerator, taking us home to the Alarie Estate.
A call connects on Bluetooth, and Leo answers.
“What happened?” Vin asks, concern in his voice.
“Charlotte passed out.” I slide my jacket over her body. “We’re taking her to Doctor Rose now.”
“Good. And the cabin?”
“What about it?”
“What do you want done with it?”
I stare down at Charlotte. The bruises and blood smeared on her skin only add fuel to the inferno smoldering inside me.
She’s spent the past three years being abused, neglected, beaten. And yet, she still remains a ray of goddamn sunshine this world doesn’t deserve.
“Burn it,” I order, my voice cold as darkness consumes me. “Along with everyone inside.” I reach for her hand and intertwine our fingers. “I want it to be as if this place and these people never existed.”
Chapter thirty-five
Charlotte
