Page 45 of Exile (Dance with My Demons #4)

Avery

"Holy shit," I breathe out, turning to face Dr. Smith and Margie. "Is it over?"

The courtroom has cleared out for the day but I've been unable to bring myself to leave, still frozen in place.

The public defender had given me a quick pat on the shoulder, before grabbing the next file and fleeing to review the information before the next case.

I barely noticed though, just replaying the Judge's words in my head over and over.

You are free to go…

It doesn't seem real. Any moment now I'm going to wake up in my room, desolate and bereft as I cling to memories and wishes.

"It's over, Avery," Dr. Smith confirms, giving me a wide smile. "You made it."

I shake my head in disbelief, glancing at Margie. "Thank you so much."

"Of course," she says softly. "You were so brave on the stand, Avery."

"I…" Trailing off, I look around. "I don't even know what to do now. What happens now? Where do I go? "

Dr. Smith clears his throat. "I may have been a little dishonest with you," he starts. My brows frown in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I know of three people who probably have a good idea of what you're going to do next…"

Heart beating rapidly, I stare at him wide eyed. "Don't play with me, Christopher…"

He nods his head toward something behind me, smiling.

I spin around, gasping. Standing in the doorway of the courtroom is Damon, Theo, and Grey, dressed casually with matching grins.

My feet move on their own accord, nearly barging Dr. Smith and Margie out of the way as I sprint down the aisle. I launch myself at them, unable to decide who to go to first. Limbs become entangled as I try to reach for all of them, Grey letting out a pained groan as his head collides with Theo's.

"Whoa, little killer. Careful of the award winning face."

"Shut up," I breathe out, grabbing his cheeks and kissing him into silence.

He's only just started kissing me back when I release him, sucking the life out of Theo before moving onto Damon. It's only when someone awkwardly clears their throat behind me that I remember we have an audience, and that I have a million questions, so I pull back.

"You're here," I croak out, voice breaking. "But I don't understand. "

Theo reaches for my hand, rubbing my wrist with his thumb. "Grey and I were released last week. Damon was let go a few weeks ago."

I stare at Damon. "Weeks ago?"

He nods. "They decided to set my trial first, given the situation and my involvement.

Once I was able to provide all the evidence relating to my father's scheme, the board's corruption, and the treatment suffered in Lilydale, it was basically a domino effect for the rest of the patients.

Especially with the investigation findings. "

"Except Theo," Grey adds. "He nearly didn't get let off."

"What?" I mutter in horror.

Theo shrugs. "I was brutally honest that I had no issue with killing the people I had."

"But then the public defender jumped in and explained why ," Grey tacks on. "Idiot here left out some key details."

"I have nothing to hide," Theo explains. "But they basically ruled any conduct at Lilydale as self-defense and reluctantly moved to a ruling that I'd served time. With a warning, apparently."

"Apparently?" I press.

"I don't consider it a warning. Just a suggestion."

Shaking my head, I wipe away tears. "Fuck. This is really happening? We're free? But some people didn't come back to the facility I was in. I thought they had been taken away…"

Damon nods. "A few patients, particularly those struggling still, were admitted into treatment programs. Some voluntarily, others mandated for a fixed period of time to be reviewed. Others were released. Everyone has been happy with their results."

"I can't believe it," I murmur, starting to become overwhelmed with emotion. "Shit—it's over. This is real?"

"It's real, little killer," Grey grins, spinning me around.

I squeal, throwing my arms around his neck. When I'm back on two feet, I ask the question that's bothering me. "Why weren't you guys in the courtroom then?"

"That was something you needed to do on your own," Theo answers. "To fall back on your own strength without having us there to distract you."

"And she did it perfectly," Dr. Smith adds, walking over. "You'd be proud."

"I'm always proud," Grey says, winking at me.

Taking a breath, I wipe away more tears, on the verge of a full sobbing session. "I still can't believe it."

Damon puts his hands in his trouser pockets. "To answer your previous question about what happens next—I've got that sorted."

"Oh?" I ask, eyebrows shooting up.

He nods. "The trust has been immediately released back to me, along with my mother's possessions. If you're up to it, I have a house ready. It needs a bit of work since it's been vacant since her death, but it's big enough for all of us."

"All of us," I repeat, chest tightening in wishful thinking as I glance at Theo and Grey. "The four of us? "

Grey laughs, throwing his hands up. "I know. I gotta live with that asshole," he nods toward Theo. "But I think we'll manage."

"Until I suffocate you in your sleep," Theo bites back.

Ignoring them, I walk into Damon's arms, pulling him into a hug. "I go where you go," I tell him. "I'll follow you three to the depths of hell and back. Oh, that's right. I did…"

Walking into the large white house, my jaw practically scrapes along the ground.

It's beautiful. Perfect.

On the outskirts of town, the house is surrounded by green pastures, large trees and gorgeous gardens. The back of the house overlooks paddocks, and further back there's a small pond, little ripples floating along the surface in the wind.

I'm captivated by the chandelier in the open plan kitchen, fingers grazing the pastel blue walls as I'm given a tour of my new home.

Apparently, Damon has spent the past few weeks getting it ready for us, hiring tradesmen and gardeners.

It's been sitting abandoned since he was forced into Lilydale, Alexander opting for a more modern, luxurious penthouse in the city on Lily's dime.

Which… now belongs to Damon too. Turns ou t Alexander's precious Will was deemed invalid due to his actions, the court awarding everything to Damon as his only living child.

There's a strange feeling swirling in my stomach that knowing the real Lily Emerson-Dale lived here.

Like my old house, this home is full of memories too.

When Damon gives me a tour, I notice an empty room upstairs, the walls ripped apart with holes in them, the carpet partially ripped up and no furniture in sight.

Indents in the remaining carpet resemble the legs of a desk and it doesn't take me long to put two and two together—Alexander's office.

I guess Damon is more like me than we thought. Except instead of burning down the house, he's completely smashed this room to smithereens and is rebuilding it. Probably a better option in hindsight…

"We each have our own rooms," Damon tells me, opening the door to a large bedroom, completely full of new furniture. The smell of fresh paint reaches my senses, the lavender color doing nothing to stop the excitement rushing through me. So much for a calming color.

I head over to a set of large double doors, gasping when I discover they open onto a balcony. I must be above the kitchen, because I have the same perfect view of the grassy fields, my hair billowing in the gentle breeze.

"This is mine?" I ask, leaning back into him as he curls his arms around me .

He nods against me. "The other three rooms are next door and across the hallway. Grey is already working on a new ASS schedule as to who gets you every night."

Laughing, I turn to face him. "Do I even get a say?" I joke.

"No," he answers without missing a beat. "Though I'd suggest locking your door. I wouldn't put it past them to sneak in and make an Avery sandwich in the middle of the night."

"I'm not opposed to sandwiches," I say casually. "As long as you sneak in as well."

Damon narrows his eyes with a smirk. "I might just keep a spare key under my pillow."

Grinning, I grab his hand, leading him back downstairs to the living room.

It's at the front of the house, with big bay windows and a fireplace to keep us warm.

Grey and Theo look up from their spots on the couch as we enter, giving me warm smiles as I curl up on the new fluffy sofa.

I could just sleep here and be happy. It feels like a damn cloud.

"What do you think?" Grey asks. "I picked the color for your room."

"It's perfect," I breathe out. "I just can't believe this is our new home."

Theo glances at Damon. "Have you told her the other news yet?"

"What news?" I quickly question, snapping my head around .

Damon leans back against the couch, resting his arms behind his head.

"Arthur got arrested," he tells me coolly.

"We may have provided footage of him and Teddy.

Turns out we were correct. Her body was never released to the coroner—obviously since we had her head.

He's been charged with her murder. They finally caught up with him three days ago.

Locked up in prison awaiting trial. His ex-wife Rose is also planning to testify about his abusive behavior. "

"Please tell me you're not kidding," I bounce up, shuffling to my knees. "My heart can't take it."

Grey laughs. "Well, that's one charge anyway. Alexander is dead so someone else has to take the fall for the board's corruption and involvement. Arthur and the board members have been charged for their contribution to the Lilydale scheme."

Best. Fucking. News. Ever.

"That's not all," Theo presses on, shooting me a knowing look. "I may have made a call to the medical board when I was released. That woman doctor has also been charged and has her license suspended pending investigation into malpractice. The other surviving doctors as well."

"Dr. Cromwell?" I splutter out. "Shit. No Christmas or birthday presents will ever compare to this."

"I still intend to give it my best shot," Grey replies.

I turn to Damon, unable to fight the smile off my face. "You really did it, Damon. I'm so proud of you. "

He lifts an eyebrow. "Team effort, wife. You three also played a pivotal part in this. Along with the others, of course."

Byrone and Jillian were released a few days ago. From what I've been told, the pair of them immediately headed North, back to Byrone's home town to be near his family. They still keep in touch though and have promised to come back for Thanksgiving.

"So, what happens to Lilydale?" I ask. "After the investigation is finished, I mean."

Damon shrugs. "Technically I own the building. I'll probably demolish it and sell the land."

I slope back into the couch, pulling my knees to my chest. "Or…"

"Or what?"

"Okay," I murmur. "Hear me out. What if we—you—turn Lilydale into a proper facility? Like the one I was in over in Ridgeview Valley. They are obviously desperate for more space to accommodate patients. We could turn Lilydale into everything it was meant to be. A proper home to help victims."

The three of them watch me carefully, my cheeks reddening. Was it really that terrible of a suggestion?

"I actually like that idea," Grey finally chimes in.

"It would take a lot of work," Damon responds thoughtfully. "We'd practically need to tear down the whole internal structure and start fresh. "

I nod. "No one would want to step foot inside any old format of Lilydale. But we could transform it into a real place of support. It would be the perfect fuck you to Alexander."

"Alright, I'm sold," Grey laughs. "Any fuck you to Alexander has my tick of approval."

Damon's eyes stay trained on me, a smile appearing on his lips. "Mom would have liked that."

"So, it's settled," Theo says. "Lilydale gets a makeover while I spend the rest of my days buried inside Avery."

"Sharing is caring," I laugh. "That's what the ASS Schedule is for."

"I'm going to order takeout," Grey announces, standing up from the couch. "Something tells me Avery is going to need all her strength tonight."

Resting my head against the couch, I smile at all of them, feeling completely at peace and loved for the first time in my entire life.

I guess Whittingham was right about one thing—Lilydale did save me. It was just in the form of three unhinged psychos.

And I have no complaints about it whatsoever.