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“I’ll be fine. I know what that video is all about. It will only push me harder to find Ashton.”

Vanessa rolled over and snuggled next to me. She gripped my arm as though she feared I might break from the video.

I hit play and watched the entire attack. Vanessa rubbed her hand up and down my arm during the five-minute video. Something unexpected happened. The video didn’t affect me like I thought it would. Instead of enraging me, it healed me to see it from this perspective. It was as though I had detached from the experience and was now looking at it from a different angle. My heart thundered as I looked at Vanessa’s hand as she soothed me.

Love had removed the pain from mypast. It had allowed me to move on. I hadn’t realized it until now. The energetic knots that had twisted me up all these years had loosened. However, moving on didn’t mean I’d forgotten what had happened. It didn’t mean my desire for vengeance had disappeared. It just meant I could navigate without the dark shackles hindering me.

I knew love was a powerful emotion, but I didn’t know its capability until now. No wonder people were transformed by this potent emotion.

I placed the phone down on the table and took Vanessa’s hand, kissing it. “You were crying for me?”

She nodded as her eyes filled up again. “I punched those boys in my dream. Kicked one in the nuts. Ashton screamed like a girl. It felt good.”

I smiled but didn’t tell her I’d witnessed it. I wanted to keep that secret to myself.

“Thank you for kicking their asses for me.”

“Anytime.” She grinned. “Are you hungry? Did you have dinner yet?”

“I’m not hungry. I spoke to Detective Farmer on my way home, and he told me the man who hurt Miranda died in prison from a heart attack.” His accomplice died on the scene when he grabbed an officer’s gun.

“So many deaths,” she murmured.

“That just means the enemy is scared of what we might find out.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

VANESSA

“Where are you taking me?”I asked from the passenger seat.

I woke up this morning to a surprise. Not only did Attikus already have breakfast ready, but he also had a whole day planned for me.

“We’re going on a date. I canceled all my meetings today and tomorrow to spend time with you.”

Though I loved the idea of spending time with him, I knew he had a lot on his plate. There were urgent matters that needed to be dealt with. He was working with Detective Farmer regarding Miranda and Emmanuel’s murders.

“Are you sure? I know you have a lot to do.”

He reached for my hand and squeezed it.

“Nothing matters more than you. We both need a break from all this chaos. Consider the next two days like an energetic cleansing so we can recharge.”

“Okay.” I smiled at him. “I closed the gallery for the next two days too. Initially, I was going to have Willow work, but she deserved time off as well.”

What was the point of working to death when I couldn’t enjoy anything?

“So where are we going?”

“To the Mount Museum, hiking for some fresh air. Then we’ll head home to watch a movie. Lovers things. Unless you have a better idea.”

“Today, you get to organize our date. But tomorrow is my day to plan.”

“Sounds good.”

I’d been to the Mount Museum a few times, but it was mostly for business. An exhibit one time, and other times, I went to support fellow artists. I hadn’t browsed as a visitor, though.

After browsing the first floor, Attikus took my hand and led me to the second floor.A few visitors wandered around. A group of college students sat in front of an Impressionist painting and sketched in their books.