Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“No. He didn’t. When you were telling me the story, you said that while you were searching for an escape, you heard a sound, right? A long sniff.”
“Yeah.” I make a face, not following where he’s going with this.
“Cass, Ace died of an overdose. Courtesy of coke with a hot shot of fentanyl.”
“But—”
He shakes his head. “There are no buts. You didn’t kill him. It is not your fault.”
I blink several times, rereading the report. Right there in black and white, it says the cause of death was an overdose. Not drowning.
I swallow, looking up at Aiden. “I didn’t kill him?”
“No, Pip, you didn’t.”
Another sob breaks through my lungs as tears cascade down my face, but this time, they aren’t sadness or guilt. Relief sweeps through me, and I crumple into a mass on Emma’s couch.
The cushions depress next to me, and I know it’s Aiden.
“Look at me, Cass. Please.”
I peek up, hardly able to see him through the river of tears. “I’m such a mess.”
He smiles down at me, pushing a piece of hair out of my face. “Yeah.” He chuckles, and if I had the energy, I’d whip a pillow at his face. “But you’re my mess. And I’m not letting you go.”
I sit up, throwing my arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder.
The pain from my past mixes with the reality that I have a future. One that doesn’t include being accused of murder.
“It’s time to move forward, babe,” Aiden says into my ear. “You and me.”
“But…my drama. The reporter…”
“I’m not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever. It’s us. It’s always been us.” He pulls away, lowering himself down so we’re eye to eye. “I’ll stand by your side until the end. No matter where the road takes us. Now and forever.”
I swallow a lump in my throat. “Now and forever.” I repeat his words, a small smile spreading across my face.
“I love you.”
My entire heart swells at his words. I’ve questioned if he could feel the same way about me, and he’s just admitted he does. All these years I’ve felt alone, like nobody could ever care for me. As though I didn’t deserve love because of what I’d done.
The truth shall set you free, they say, and it sure the hell does.
I didn’t kill Ace. It was a horrible accident. One that could’ve been prevented if he’d kept his hands off me and hadn’t used drugs. I’m free from the binds that have held me in a place of fear all these years.
Aiden loves me, and that’s all I’ll ever need.
“I love you too.”
EPILOGUE
CASSIDY
The past three months have been crazy.
One of my proudest moments was watching the Saints win the Stanley Cup.
It was amazing to see Aiden shine along with his teammates. They’ve all worked so hard and to see that result in something so epic was incredible.
To stand by Aiden’s side was truly one of the best moments of my life. I can imagine very few things that could top that.
The city went nuts.
There were parades and multiple celebrations in the team’s honor. Aiden was presented MVP, an award that brought him to near tears. I wept like a baby.
Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it. Truly a moment that will live in my brain and heart for the rest of my life. I’ve never been so proud of a single person.
As for the drama we had to deal with during the playoffs, that settled too.
The nosy reporter, well, we didn’t have to worry about him for long.
When the Saints won the Cup, Billy, who had been transferred to a team in LA, turned back up running his mouth, which alerted the reporter to his scent.
Last we heard, the reporter got the big story he was after. Billy had been sexually harassing one of his new teammate’s wife. Apparently, not much had changed. Instead of harassing me, he found another woman, but this time, it finally ruined him.
Now, as the dust has settled in our lives, we’re heading back to where it all began.
Shortly after the team won their big game, Aiden’s mom passed.
It was an overdose.
I can’t say I didn’t anticipate that happening one day, but the timing was morbidly fitting. She got to watch her son shine, knowing she’d get nothing from it. All those years of her neglect and extortion are done. He gets to live the rest of his life in peace, knowing that he made the best decision of his life the day he walked away from her and that place.
I know that. Always have, but now, I have peace with it too.
Aiden’s tried to act like he isn’t affected by her death, but I know what it’s like to lose the only parent you have. Despite how horrible she was, he needs closure.
My dad’s not dead, but in a sense, he died a long time ago. Who knows where he is, or what he’s up to? The truth is, I don’t care. I know what it’s like to be alone. I managed for a long time. I’m not alone anymore. I don’t need my dad in my life. Not now, not ever. I made peace with that the day I left.