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I tackle Leon, and his feet get caught in the yards of white satin cascading from my body. We hit the ground hard. I claw at his face, my fingers turning to fists as I hit him again and again and again. People like him make guys like Devon do what he did. He’s evil. He’s sick.
He grins at me, his teeth stained with blood. “I’d do it all over again. I only wish I’d had the chance to stick my dick inside her before she died.”
Ripping a loose cobblestone from the ground, I slam it down on his face. Again. And again.
He makes a grunting sound and then falls limp.
Seconds later, I’m being hauled into a solid body that smells like aftershave.
“Shh,” Alaric whispers. “It’s okay.”
It’s not, though. Nothing is ever going to be the same again.
He breathes against my cheek, grounding me. “You did it, Eden. You found out what happened.”
I slump against him. It’s like all the weeks leading up to this leave me wrecked.
I did it, though. Just like I promised her.
I stare up at the blue sky. Such a pretty picture for such a gruesome scene. “I did it, Dee. I love you.”
31
Eden
Idon’t know how many minutes have gone by. Alaric’s arms are still wrapped around me, and Oliver has come to kneel in front of me, his concerned face swiping over my cheeks and checking me for injuries.
Keegan has knelt to the ground. The gun in his hand shakes, and when he notices, he chucks it as far away from himself as possible.
Leo casually kicks Leon Forbes’ body, garnering a small grunt that sends a shiver through me. Leo toes the stone off Leon’s face and puts two bullets in his head.
Bam-bam.
I’ve never heard a sound as final as that one.
I take in a few deep breaths, telling myself to focus on Oliver and Alaric. Leo gazes over at us, and the smile on his face says it all. There’s a purity there. Recklessness, sure, but it’s like he’s looking forward to the future.
We’ve literally kicked almost all the dead weight at once. Surrounded by so much bloodshed, I should be shaking and crying on the ground, but I’m relieved. I did what I came here to do. My sister’s death is vindicated. We can tell the world what actually happened. We can leave here. We can—
Leo swings the gun at the priest. “Where do you think you’re going?”
The priest stops in his tracks.
I pat Alaric’s forearm. “Help me up.”
He gets me to my feet, helping me arrange my dress as the priest holds up his hand, his black book shaking. “I won’t say a word.”
Leo narrows his gaze. I smile at Oliver and then peel Alaric’s fingers from me before taking both their hands and marching them forward. “You’re right. You won’t. Because if you do, I’ll tell everyone that you stood by and did nothing while a madman conned you into marrying two people without their consent.”
“He blackmailed me. He—”
Leo smirks. “Consider this as me blackmailing you.”
A grin spreads my lips. Despite all odds, love flows through me. It’s all around me. The sky has opened up and rays of sun pour down through the holes in the trellis until we’re all swathed in light.
The priest nods eagerly. “Good,” I tell him, gaining his attention. “Now, I need you to perform a wedding ceremony.”
Leo’s eyes round. Alaric and Oliver tighten their hold on me.