Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
I look at her and nod in understanding. “I get that. And we will. We’ll kill my mother and Bane. We’ll shut down their vile businesses for good and save as many innocents as we can.”
For a moment, Harper’s expression changes, and I can read the sadness in her eyes. “I’m worried that it’s just a small drop in the ocean,” she admits.
“It is,” Dante says as he walks into the room. “But after we’ve dealt with those two, we’ll just keep going,” he tells us as he settles in beside me. “We can continue our work and help The Fallen. They’ve been doing this for as long as we have, and their focus is the same as ours. Crow, Falcon, and Hawk have wanted to form a partnership with us for a while now. If we keep doing what we’re doing, it will make a difference.”
I know Dante is right about working with The Fallen. Most people would call them vigilantes, but they’ve proved, time and time again, they are a force for good, and most of the law enforcement agencies they encounter end up enlisting their help.
“They have a good reputation,” Harper responds.
“And they have resources we don’t,” I add, knowing that Falcon can find anyone, anywhere. “I’m just wondering how much of a difference a small handful of us can really make.”
“Perhaps we won’t be able to save the world, but we can fucking try,” Dante says as he takes my hand and brings it to his lips.
For a long while, I couldn’t stand anyone touching me. But Dante has something compelling about him that I can’t quite pinpoint. He doesn’t scare me, and he doesn’t make me fear he’s going to hurt me, even though he’s taller, stronger, and bigger than me. I’ve watched him kill people in cold blood without flinching, yet when his fingertips make contact with my skin, I feel safe.
“We fucking can,” I agree, offering him a smile. “I need something to drink,” I announce before pushing to my feet. “I want to be ready for her when she wakes up.”
“Let’s make something to eat as well,” Harper says as she joins me, and we leave Dante in the living room as we make our way into the kitchen. “He’s worried about you.”
I look at her and nod. “I know, but I can’t change how he’s feeling. Even if I tell him I’m okay, I don’t think it would help. He’s worried about much more than just me.”
“He is. Once we’ve got all the information we need from that woman,” Harper sneers, and I’m thankful she doesn’t refer to her as my mother. “We can move on from here.”
“The sooner we finish this the better. As much as I want revenge, I also want Rae Atwood to look me in the eye and tell me she hates me,” I say softly, trying to quell the churning in my gut. “There’s no way she has any motherly love in her heart for me. There’s far too much darkness in her soul, but I need her to admit it to me.” When I utter the words, a wave of sadness hits me, and I have to hold onto the counter to steady myself.
“Hey,” Harper gasps as she rushes to my side. “What’s wrong?”
I take a few deep breaths before I look into the eyes of this beautiful woman who’s also suffered heartache and pain, and I whisper, “What if I turn out just like her?”
“You are nothing like her,” Harper grits through clenched teeth. Her gaze sparks with vehemence as she stares at me. “You were born with a beautiful soul, pure and innocent. That woman in the outbuilding doesn’t have one. No mother should be inclined to do what she did.”
There’s a heavy silence in the room. While I was in captivity, I was nothing but a pawn in an ugly game. But now I have my freedom, the fear I’ll turn into a monster, just like my mother, has been lingering in my mind.
“What about my genes? My DNA is partly hers,” I whisper while trying to swallow the lump that’s formed in my throat. “I’m her daughter. I know she chose to be like that, but what if something pushes me to behave the way she does.”
“Are you talking about right now, or when you have children?” Harper tips her head to the side as she slowly realizes what I’m talking about.
I never thought I could have kids, but what if it happened one day?
“I grew up believing that children were never going to be an option for me, but now…”
My words are stolen when I look toward the doorway and see Dante leaning against the frame. Children have never come up as a topic for discussion between the three of us, but as he listens to Harper and me, there’s a smile on his face I haven’t seen before.