Chapter 8 - THE REUNION
When my arms finally wrapped around my wife, it felt like waking up from a four-year nightmare.
She felt real. She felt solid.
"I'm so sorry," Elena sobbed against my chest, her hands gripping my coat so tightly her knuckles were white. "I'm so sorry I left you in the dark. I didn't want to hurt you. I just had to keep you safe."
"You're here," I whispered, burying my face in her neck, inhaling the scent of her hair. "That's all that matters. You're alive."
Something small shoved against our legs.
Mateo and Lucas squeezed between us, wrapping their little arms around Elena's waist.
Elena dropped to her knees, pulling both of our sons into her chest. She kissed their heads, their faces, her tears mixing with theirs.
"My beautiful boys," she cried. "Mommy is here. Mommy is never leaving again."
I looked over at Victoria.
She was sitting on the wet deck, shivering violently, her head buried in her hands.
Elena gently pulled away from the boys and walked over to her.
She knelt in front of the woman who had helped hide the truth, but who had also risked her life tonight to save our children.
Elena reached out and placed a hand on Victoria's shoulder.
Victoria flinched, looking up with terrified, guilt-ridden eyes.
"I'm sorry," Victoria choked out. "Elena, I am so, so sorry."
Elena didn't yell. She didn't strike her.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the gold bracelet. The one Arthur had torn off her wrist the night of the fire.
She placed it gently in Victoria's hand.
"You were trapped, just like I was," Elena said softly. "Arthur destroyed both of our lives. But tonight... you fought back. You saved my sons. You earned your freedom, Victoria."
Victoria broke down, clutching the bracelet to her chest.
Detective Miller stepped forward, his radio crackling.
"We need to get you all back to the station," Miller said gently. "There's a lot of paperwork to undo."
I helped Elena to her feet. I wrapped my arm tightly around her waist, refusing to let her go.
As we walked back inside the warm cabin of the ferry, I felt a weight lift off my chest that I hadn't realized I was carrying for four years.
May you like
The lies were over. The fire was finally put out.
But there was one last thing we had to do.
