Chapter 45

FORTY-FIVE

I t doesn't surprise me that the press is congregated around my house when we arrive. Elijah has been fielding more requests for a statement or interviews than any other assistant ever has. We ignore them as we drive through. They slap the car, shouting questions, but Kage's guards force a path through them, and the gate shuts behind us. They will probably scale the wall to get a picture, so when I get out, I tug down my sunglasses and help Kage out. I take his hand and let him lean on me, but it looks like we are just walking together. He would hate to appear weak in front of them.

It doesn't matter that the cameras captured everything—my sobbing confessions and songs to him, his declaration of love for me as he was dying—I won't give them more. This part of our life is ours, not theirs.

By the time we make it inside, he's breathing heavily and wobbling. "Can you make it upstairs?"

"Me? I'm fine." He looks at the stairs, jaw clenching, and I turn to one of the guards. "Bring a bed frame from a spare room into the living room."

"I'm fine?—"

I ignore him and lead him toward the living room. "Then do it for me," I implore, and he relents. I lean him against the wall as I move furniture and prepare everything for him. The guards work quickly, assembling the bed and bedding, and I add a side table with his medication and some drinks before turning on the record player. A soothing song fills the air as I help him into bed, smoothing the covers around him.

"Join me," he orders, reaching for me.

"In a bit. I'm going to cook you something." His eyebrows rise and his eyes widen, since we both know I can't cook for shit. "Okay, I'm going to watch while Helena cooks you something, and then you will eat and sleep or I'll take you back to the hospital."

"Such a mean nurse." He sighs as he settles in, closing his eyes despite his words. I leave him to nap, and when I come back with food, I help him sit up and hand feed him every bite. When he's done, I carefully read the instruction leaflet for his medication and administer that before settling him back, then I climb in next to him, curling into his side.

"The world wants answers," he starts.

"The world can wait," I snap. "They will get us when we're ready, not before. Just rest, it's my turn to look after you now."

We spend the entire week sleeping, eating, and relaxing. We don't speak of what happened or anything going on outside. I avoid the news and my phone, instead just spending time with him. I know this can't last forever, but we deserve it, and Elijah agrees, keeping everyone away as much as he can. When the doctor for Kage's daily checkup leaves, Elijah fidgets nervously in the doorway.

"What is it?" I ask, my eyes going back to Kage as he pulls his shirt down. He'll have three wicked scars, but we both know it will only make me want him more.

Yes, I've kept my rule—no fucking—though it is hard. I wake with him feeling me up or his hands shoved into my underwear nearly every morning. I have the will of a fucking saint to resist his constant teasing and pressure, but I won't let him hurt himself, not even if I'm craving him as badly as he craves me.

I'm not an animal, I can go without, or so I tell myself, but I know I'm eyeing him like he's a piece of meat, and he smirks when he catches me. "Come touch instead of staring."

Jerking my gaze from him, I narrow my eyes on Elijah. "Well?" He gets the brunt of my sexual frustration, though he doesn't say anything about it.

"The police are here. I've been putting them off for the last two weeks, but they are insisting they need to speak to both of you." He shifts uncomfortably. "What should I do?"

I glance at Kage before sighing and getting to my feet. "Let them into the kitchen. We'll be there in a minute." Heading over to Kage, I cup his face. "Let's get this over with. We both knew they would be here sooner or later." Taking his hand, I let him lead me to the kitchen, where two detectives sit.

They stand as we enter, and I gesture for them to sit as we take the chairs opposite them. "My assistant tells me you need to speak to us."

"We want to keep you both informed about the investigation. We're thankful for all the evidence you collected. It's been a big help. We're not the only agency working on this now, and I have no doubt it will only continue to snowball, but we wanted you to know there will be no escape from this. The evidence is damning, and those names you gave us? They stand no chance. It might not be tomorrow or in a month, but they will get their comeuppance, and you'll have your justice. We thought it was important to tell you that. Their money and power can't protect them now."

"Too late for Evelyn or Lennie," I reply, even though it isn't their fault. "Thank you for telling us. I can't wait to watch this unfold and for justice to be served."

"And on behalf of everyone in our field, we want to apologize for our failures thus far. It won't happen again." They both nod to me as they stand. "If you find anything else or need anything, please don't hesitate to contact us. We'll try not to bother you, since we know how busy you are." The one on the left grins. "We're all big fans. "

I can't help but smile. "Thank you, it means a lot. Elijah will see you out."

I watch them go, and I realize there's something I need to do—something important.

I sneak out while Kage is napping, something he says he doesn't need but continues to do every day. It's adorable, actually, watching him fight it. I take guards with me, and we manage to get away from the paparazzi fairly easily, so when we pull up at the cemetery, we're left in peace.

I don't know why, but I knew she would be here. Leaving my guards at the car, I clutch the flowers I brought and head her way. She smiles when she sees me, and I crouch, laying the flowers on the grave.

"I'm sure you heard, but the world remembers you now. They know your story, and you'll have your justice for what they did to you," I tell Lennie and her mother, Mrs. Miller. When I stand and step back, her mother takes my hand.

"All thanks to you," she murmurs. "Thank you, Fallon."

"Thank you for trusting me with your daughter's story and legacy." We both lapse into silence, staring at the grave that has been her mother's jail.

"Will you be okay?" I murmur. She has spent years fighting for justice, for her daughter's memory, and now that it's over, what will she have left to keep her going? Her whole life is frozen in time, so when it begins to thaw, what will remain?

"In time," she replies.

"What will you do now?" I ask, glancing at her.

"I think I'll move. This city holds nothing but bad memories, and I think it's time. I can finally think about my daughter without feeling guilty. You gave me that. You gave me a second chance. I'll never forget what happened, but I want to live my remaining years as happy as I can for her, in her name."

We share a sad smile, both of us wishing her daughter were here to live it with her. "Will you check on her from time to time for me?" she asks sadly, glancing back at her daughter. "I don't want her to be lonely here."

"Absolutely," I promise, squeezing her hand. "She'll be happy you're finally moving on. I know I would be. She's lucky to have a mother like you."

She blushes. "I just did what any mother would."

"No, not any mother. Just because you gave birth to her doesn't mean you had to do all this. Some wouldn't. Most, in fact, but you did. You are a wonderful mother, and she was very lucky. I would have done anything to have a mother who loved me as deeply as you loved her."

"Then I'm sorry you never did. You are a wonderful person, Fallon. You deserve to be loved." She glances back at her daughter and smiles. "It's not goodbye forever, my angel, just for now."

"I'll see you soon," I promise. No matter how busy we get or where we are in the world, I will come back here and bring flowers for the girl who deserved to live.

Once we say our goodbyes, we linger for a moment. "Are you ready?" I ask her.

"I am." She looks at her daughter's grave once more before turning away and walking with me.

I hold her hand as we walk out of the cemetery and toward our futures, leaving the past where it lies, but we'll visit from time to time, if only to say hello to the ghosts that await us.