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“Yes,” he said with misty eyes, “I couldn’t lose you again.”
Anna blinked confusion. “The Midewiwin’s prediction was wrong,” she mumbled under her breath. “I didn’t die in the arms of the seventh, I was born in the arms of his descendant.”
Antonio rose to his feet and offered his hand. Anna took it and he pulled her up into his arms. They fell together in a tight embrace.
“Anna pulled back, staring into his eyes. “He marked me,” she whispered.
“I know,” Antonio said with a bent finger to her cheek, “but that won’t change my heart.”
She hugged him tight, her tears falling.
Torin smiled, his promise to Donja fulfilled.
“Antonio! Larkspur cried hysterically, crouched between Scarface and Zaroc’s lifeless bodies. “Please, save my son.”
Antonino parted the crowd and dropped down beside her and Miguel. He locked his eyes on Zaroc. “I can’t,” he said, “I’m sorry but Marie’s dead and he was part of it. They shared a body and he may have been hostage to that bastard, but he was there, he witnessed her last breath.”
Milos shoved Antonio aside, pulled Miguel into his arms and kissed him passionately. Miguel pulled back with tears in his eyes. “Are you crazy?”
“Yes,” Milos laughed, “crazy enough to steal a kiss.”
“Somebody save him!” Miguel pleaded.
Milos grabbed him again. He kissed him long and hard. Miguel beat his fist on his chest.
“I’ll take that as payment for services rendered, “Milos laughed as he released Miguel. He turned, dropped down and seized Zaroc. He bit into his neck. Roused from death, Zaroc began to struggle.
Milos relinquished his bite, the taste of Zaroc’s blood lingering. He licked his lips and winked at Miguel. “I apologize for my rash behavior but you and Zaroc are the first same sex blood I’ve tasted, and I must say it’s not at all what I expected.”
Zaroc, with Miguel holding him tight, began to quiver. Miguel and Larkspur assisted him to sit up. Confused, he moaned with his hands roaming his face. “What happened?”
“You’re free, my son, finally free,” Larkspur sobbed.
“Free…is it true?” Zaroc whispered. “Is this a dream?”
“You’re not dreaming,” Larkspur sobbed as she stood up revealing Scarface’s dead body behind her. Zaroc locked his eyes on the lifeless corpse. He gasped, then embraced Miguel.
Miguel, with a fleeting glance to Milos, said, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Milos smiled. “Sorry that I toyed with you, but it’s my nature, the Russian in me,” he laughed. “For what it’s worth, I wish you both a long and happy life.”
“Let’s go home,” Torin sighed, Donja in his mind. He turned, glancing over the dead that littered the land. “It’s over. It’s finally over!”
~~~
As the noon day sun breached the windows of Hampton Manor, Donja and Makayla sat atop the kitchen island eating chocolate pie. Lisa turned from the sink drying her hands. “Since you’re craving chocolate, I thought I’d bake a Mississippi Mud Cake.”
“Oh, Mom, would you…please,” Donja moaned, stuffing her mouth with pie. “I’ll eat the whole thing.”
Lisa laughed for the first time in forever.
It’s so good to have you back.
She tossed the dishrag to the counter and her demeanor shifted.
Now if Anna would only come home.
“You’d eat the whole cake?” Makayla asked.