EPILOGUE

BONES

One Year Later

“Are you double sure you’ve not left anything behind?” Wynter asks Summer as the last few boxes are loaded onto the moving truck.

“Yes, Wynnie, I’m sure.” Summer rolls her eyes at her big sister.

“If anything’s still in there then you won’t be able to get it back.”

When we decided on a fresh start in a new home, Wynter made the point that everything we didn’t need we should sell and give the money to charity. I let her choose the organization and she found one that helps victims of sexual violence. I haven't told her, but I've also left them a large donation out of my own money.

After everything she’s been through all she wants to do is keep helping others. She’s so determined like that and I love her for it.

“I know!” Summer groans.

“Go on, do one last run of the house for your big sis to make sure,” I say, and Summer scowls at me for not taking her side.

“Fine,” she groans as she trudges back up the steps.

Everything that’s left in the house after today will be going to auction. Which includes everything in my sister's room. I’m finally moving on. All it took was the love of my two favorite girls to make me realize it was never the house I needed.

“How is it that she’s barely eleven and she’s already acting like a teenager?” Wynter sighs as she leans into my side and I wrap my arm around her.

“God help us when she’s actually a teenager,” I chuckle.

Wynter looks up at me, those blue eyes shining beautifully in the morning sun. “How are you feeling?”

How am I feeling?

I only have one word to describe how it feels to finally say goodbye to the house I’ve let haunt me for years. One simple word that means everything as I look into the eyes of the woman who saved my soul. “Happy.”

For the first time in fifteen years, I truly am happy.

I get to start over, build a life with my bride-to-be and the tiny girl who wormed her way into my heart.

When I first met Summer she was just a pawn to use, another piece on the board to help me secure my prize. I left her and Charlie alone in the cottage, only going there to bring them groceries and to check in.

It hurt to look at the girl that reminded me so much of the sister I lost. I tried to keep Summer at arm’s length, but for some strange reason the girl wasn’t scared of me. I used her for information, to find out anything new about Wynter, and find a way to win her heart. But along the way, the girl won mine. I never thought there'd be space in the desecrated organ for two people. Yet here I am. Content and full of love for my new family.

“Me too.” Wynter smiles at me. “Ready for one more goodbye?”

She squeezes my waist and I grab one of her hands, weaving our fingers together and bringing them to my lips. “I’m ready for anything when I’m with you, my love.”

Summer comes back down the steps with a sheepish look on her face and her hands behind her back.

“I knew it!” Wynter exclaims.

“I didn’t forget anything.” Summer side-steps around us so we can’t see her back. I put my hand on her head to hold her in place.

“Show me,” I say and she scowls at me again. When I raise my brows she gives in and holds out her unicorn plushie.

Leaving the pair of them to get into the car, I close up the house. Locking the door on the place that held my heart hostage for so long.

Our new home isn’t that far away from here. We’re still living in the city, but it’s closer to everything we need. My office, Summer’s school, and Wynter’s new college. She wanted to pick up where she left off with her studies and she starts next semester doing a mix of online and on-campus lessons.

We still do our extracurricular activities whenever we have time. Killing will always be in my nature and thankfully Wynter never lost her taste for it. Those that hurt her are long gone, but there’s plenty more scum that needs disposing of.

Just because we got rid of Dmitri doesn’t mean that the sex trafficking in this city has stopped. There are still girls going missing every day and Wynter is determined to help them all.

The moving truck drives off ahead of us to our new home. We have one quick stop to make on the way.

As we drive away from the house a tiny hole is left in my heart, but it’s immediately filled when I look at Summer and then Wynter. They are everything I didn’t know I needed.

The cemetery is peaceful when the sun is still shining. Its usual chill is gone and the light birdsong makes everything seem hopeful, like even amongst death life still finds a way to blossom.

Wynter and Summer’s parents are also buried here so I leave them to visit their graves while I see my own family.

Three headstones await me today.

“Hi Mom, Dad, moonbeam,” I greet them all as I stand there with one hand in the pocket of my jeans. “Sorry, it’s been a while. I’ve been busy, but it’s not an excuse this time. I’ve been busy for all the right reasons. Wynter’s still with me and she’s safe.

“Dad. I never got a chance to thank you or to apologize. I should have just done my job, maybe then we could have had more time together. So thanks for everything you did for us. For me, Mom, and Kimmy, but also for Wynter. Your sacrifice wasn’t in vain.”

I place the flowers down on top of their graves. Knowing that my father is with Mom and Kimmy makes what I have to say next a little easier.

“I won’t be coming back,” I say to the headstones because that’s all they are now. Stone sat atop, dirt and bones. “I’ve realized that you really are gone. All the time I spent holding your memories hostage within my own grief was only hurting me. You’re not in that house and you’re not here. I hope that wherever you are you get to be with each other. You don’t need to save me a spot next to you anymore. I’ve got two very special people who need me to take care of them, so I have to stay here for as long as possible. I’m going to tell them all about you. None of you will ever be forgotten. I promise you that. But from now on I’m letting go of you.”

Looking up to the sky I let out a shaky breath and laugh. “You’d think I rehearsed that shit or something, huh?”

I pull the hair tie off my wrist and roll it between my fingers before setting it down on top of the middle headstone. Kimmy’s . “Thanks for letting me borrow this, sis. I won't be needing it anymore.”

When I head back to the main path I see my two girls up ahead. Hand in hand, laughing and chatting with each other. They look so happy.

A breeze picks up, making Wynter’s hair cover her face and when she brushes it back she catches sight of me. I’m left feeling breathless as I stare at her. She’s perfect in every single fucking way and somehow she’s mine.

“Ready to see our new home?’ she asks, reaching her free hand out to me. I take it without a second thought.

“I’ve never been more ready for anything.”