16. Epilogue

Rune

One month later

“Are you sure this is the right choice?” Silas asks as he carries the last box inside. Yesterday, I finally got the keys to Cali’s dream home. Si and Ric are helping me move our stuff in today.

“Positive.” I say, grabbing one of the boxes from the table and setting it on the floor. “Has anyone talked to Karrion yet?”

“No,” he says flatly, “he took Jessa and disappeared.” Sitting on the stool across the island, he looks at me like he’s got something on his mind. I arch a brow at him and he lets out a long sigh. “What’s that even about? Why have him keep her alive?”

“To keep me alive.” I deadpan. “He wanted to kill Jessa, then let me kill him. This way, he has a daily reminder of what he did to her. He’s going to be miserable until I’m happy again.”

“That’s really fucked up if you think about it.” He shakes his head, standing from the island.

“So don’t think about it, Si.” I shrug and walk out of the kitchen. “I’ve got somewhere to be.” I don’t stick around to wait for him to leave, I hop in my new truck and head to the cemetery.

Sitting next to the white marble headstone still doesn’t feel real. I’ve been here every day since the day after her funeral. Being wasted in a bar while my fiance was being buried is something I’ll regret for the rest of my life. “I couldn’t be there for you.” I whisper to the ground, tears streaming down my face. This is what I do every single day. I act like I’m perfectly fine, but the second I’m alone, I think of all the things I could’ve done differently. “The day I slid that ring on your finger, I signed your death certificate. I promise to never love another woman the way I love you, Sweet Pea.”

The air picks up around me, the scent of vanilla and mint fills my nose as I stand. As fast as the wind started, it stops just as quickly. Everything goes still until a tree branch cracks in the distance. Spinning to face the noise, I hear a voice whisper, “Go find your harem, don’t let this ruin your heart.”

“Cali?” I call out, running toward the tree line. “Is that really you?” No response. I search the trees but can’t find anyone. It was Cali, I would know that voice anywhere. My chest tightens as I climb in my truck and head toward my new home. My thoughts spiral out of control, part of me wants to be mad at my brother, but a bigger part of me understands that he truly has no control over what he does when his head is like that. So I let it all go. The bitterness, the anger, the sadness, I won’t let it destroy me. The only way to move forward is to stop looking back at what could have been. Pulling into the driveway, I hop out of the truck, not bothering to shut it off, I go to the garage and grab my gas can, bringing it inside with me.

“Fucking Silas.” I growl, spotting the ring box he opened and placed on the dining room table. I glare at the pink engagement ring for a few minutes before lifting the can and pouring the gas all over the box and table. When the last drop hits the ring, I grab the matches from the drawer next to the stove, strike one against the side of the box and drop it on the table. The fumes ignite immediately and I take a few steps back to watch the destruction unfold. I’m so distracted by the flames dancing that I don’t hear anyone approaching until the fist hits me straight in the nose, making a nasty crunching sound. I reel back and blink at my brother, confused. He hits me again and I feel my lip split from the force.

“What the fuck are you doing?” He seethes, pulling his fist back to hit me again. “You’re not thinking straight.”

I duck, avoiding his fist and throw a punch of my own to his kidneys. He doubles over for a second and I hit him in the jaw. He launches himself forward and tackles me to the ground, but I roll with him, landing another hit to his ribs. He tries to flip me off of him, but I bring my elbow down across the bridge of his nose, causing a deep gash. The blood spills instantly, dripping into both of his eyes. I stand, offering him my hand to help him up, but he slaps it away. The flames have moved to the floor, working their way toward us. “We need to get out of here, Karrion. Unless you want both of us to die here.”

“Why are you doing this?” He shouts, jumping to his feet. He runs toward the sink and turns on the hose, aiming it at the fire. Some of the flames start to die down, but that short little hose isn’t going to be enough to kill it all.

“Stop,” I demand, “this is how we move forward. By forgetting what’s behind me.” I walk up behind him, placing my hand on his shoulder. He turns the water off and releases the hose. “We need to go, now.”

Once we’re both out of the house, K hops in his Jeep and smirks at Jessa who is buckled in the passenger seat with her arms duct taped together in front of her. She brings her arms up to bang on the window and I smile as I motion for Karrion to roll the window down. The tape across her mouth muffles her cries, but I can make out her begging for my help. “Don’t get on his bad side.” I tell her before getting in my truck and driving away.