Page 119 of The Retaliation You Deliver

“We wanted to wait until you got here so you could say your goodbyes.”

Macie sniffles, her free hand lifting to wipe away a tear.

“Could I go and do that now? I’d rather not allow him to suffer any longer than necessary.”

The nurse's face softens in sympathy. “I can assure you, your uncle is in no pain.”

“Okay. T-that’s good.”

Is it?I think as I pull Macie into my side and drop a kiss to her head.

“There’s a nurse in with him who can answer any more questions that you might have. But if you’re happy, I can let her know your decision and she can turn off his machines with you there.”

Macie nods. “Y-yes. I think that’s for the best.”

The nurse nods and stands, instructing us to follow her.

It’s only a short walk to a private room with the blinds pulled closed.

“This is Macie, his niece,” the nurse says, opening the door and letting us inside.

My eyes immediately fall on the man lying under the white sheets in the middle of the room. It’s been years since I saw him in person, but the second I see his face, even if it is gaunt and his skin is almost translucent in color, a wave of fear and disgust rolls through me.

Standing there in that doorway, I’m just an eleven-year-old boy once again scared of what is going to happen to him next. Terrified of the pain he knows is coming his way.

“Leon,” Macie whispers, her hand landing on my cheek. “You don’t have to do this.”

Swallowing down my fear and throwing my shoulders back, I remind myself that I’m no longer that little boy and that Richard is no longer a threat to me. He’s no longer a threat to anyone lying there being kept alive by nothing more than a fancy computer.

“I’m good.”

“You sure?”

“Promise, baby.” I kiss her brow and walk a little farther into the room.

My eyes catch on the nurse standing at his bedside with a clipboard in her hands. I’m hit with a sense of familiarity but I can’t quite put my finger on where I know her from.

“I’ll leave you with Cindy,” the first nurse says before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind us.

Cindy holds my eyes, clearly she recognizes me too.

I feel Macie’s attention as she looks between the two of us, and I’m about to break the connection when Cindy smiles.

“Ready to do this?” she asks.

“Uh…”

“Who are you?”

“Mr. Fletcher’s nurse,” she says innocently. Too innocently.

My brows pinch as I stare at her, racking my brain to figure out who she is.

“Leon, would you like to do the honors?”

“Okay, what the hell is going on?” Macie spits.

Cindy smiles. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”