Page 76 of Vicious Deception
“Thank you.” Axel pulls a small bag from his pocket. The packaging is colorful, but I can’t make out what it is. “Rhett, could you . . .”
Without a word, Rhett takes the bag and slips it into his pocket. “I’ll let him know it was from you.”
“When you tell him what really happened,” Axel says thickly, “and he finds out who I am . . . tell him I’m sorry.”
Silently, Rhett nods.
Axel takes a step back toward his vehicle, but then he stops. “Give him hell for me, would you?”
Confusion flickers over Rhett’s face. “What?”
“Not Benny,” Axel says quickly. “Holloway. He took everything from me. More than I even knew. He’ll never understand what he did to me, but . . .”
“You want to pay him back, too,” Wren says softly.
“It’ll never be enough,” Axel replies, “and I know you four have plans to do every hellish thing possible to him. But . . . I just want to make sure he gets what he deserves.”
“He will,” I say.
“Thank you.”
We watch him retreat to his SUV and get inside. Only once he’s pulled out of the small lot do we leave, too. Rhett sits in the front seat, and Oliver, Wren, and I climb into the back.
For the whole drive, I keep Wren’s hand in mine. She leans against me, and Oliver leans against her.
This is it,I realize as buildings pass us by.Everything we’ve been fighting for.
Relieved tears fill my eyes. Wren squeezes my hand gently, and I kiss the top of her head.
And more.
Chapter twenty-four
Oliver
Wesleepsoundlyforthe rest of the night. This time, I stay in Wren’s bed, and Rhett sleeps with Ell.
When I wake, Wren is still out cold. Sunlight is streaming in through the window, but it doesn’t anger me the way it has for the past couple weeks. I’m not trapped in here. If I want to go outside and feel the breeze against my skin, I can.
I let myself watch Wren for a few minutes. She didn’t have any nightmares—at least not while she was with me. Her breathing is even, and the worry that I’ve gotten used to seeing on her features is gone. I’m sure some of it’ll come back when she wakes, but for now, I’m happy to see her so at peace.
Quietly, I get up and get ready for the day. My mom has always been an early riser. She still has questions, and just because I’m safe doesn’t mean she isn’t worried.
Once I’m dressed and ready to head downstairs, I lower myself onto the edge of the bed. I don’t want Wren to wake up alone without knowing where I went. Lightly, I run my hand down her arm.
She makes a tired sound before whispering, “I missed that.”
“I know, princess.” I smile down at her as she blinks her eyes open.
When she sees I’m fully dressed, she grabs my wrist. “Where are you going?”
“Just downstairs. Wanna talk to Mom some.”
“Mmm.” Her eyes slide closed again, and her grip on my arm loosens.
“We won’t leave you, Wren.” Leaning down, I brush my lips across her cheek. “We’ll never leave you again.”
She barely responds, only letting out a sleepy moan before fully relaxing again. I watch her for a few more seconds before heading downstairs.