Page 107 of Angels & Whiskey

I groaned. “I know. It’s surreal, you know?”

Gabe gave a tight smile. “Actually, I do. Why don’t you call your parents and tell them they can go home and we’ll meet them there and tell them everything?” Gabe quickly changed the subject and I didn’t think anything of it.

“Can we go by my house first? If it is a crime scene, it should look like one, right?”

“Yeah, angel. We can do whatever you want.”

I called my parents on the way to my house. Of course, my dad questioned everything, but I’d convinced him I would fill him in once we met them there. I also needed to reassure myself Rich was really dead.

When we rounded the corner onto my street, I immediately saw the yellow tape. A lump started to form in my throat again and my eyes started to sting. My breathing increased as I tried to keep my tears at bay.

“Angel—”

“Stop the car.”

Gabe drove slowly in front of my house and stopped. I got out and walked to the sidewalk toward the yellow tape that blocked anyone from stepping onto my property. There were no police cars, no medical examiners—nothing. I didn’t know how long it would take the police to collect all the evidence they needed, but it was getting late so they’d probably gone home for the day.

I ducked under the caution tape and took a few steps on the grass toward the front door. I didn’t make it past the middle of the yard before I collapsed, the weight of everything beating down on me. The tears I was trying so hard to fight started to run down my cheeks. My body shook as I closed my eyes and let the tears try to do their job.

I felt Gabe sit down next to me and wrap me in his arms. “It’s okay. Let it out.”

“I don’t know why I’m crying,” I admitted.

“Because you loved him. Even though he treated you like you didn’t matter, he mattered to you.”

“But I didn’t cry when I left him. Why am I crying now?”

“Crying doesn’t always show weakness, angel. You were strong for so long maybe you feel relief that it’s over?”

I nodded against his chest. “It is over, isn’t it?”

“The living in fear part is over. Once they determine how he died, you’ll need to deal with everything else, but I’ll be here with you.”

I nodded again as I wiped the tears from my eyes. Rich put me through hell and I despised him, but in the end, he’d made me stronger. I always thought I’d resent him, but the more he pushed, the stronger I got. He made me learn. He made my skin thicker. He made me—me. I was a fighter. And now that he was gone …

I would no longer be the victim.