Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

Baby,” Lu said, and knelt beside her. Montessa’s father’s blood ran over his sneakers, but he didn’t care. “We have to go, baby. We can’t stay here.”

“I thought he was such an animal.” She pulled her knees up to her chest. Wrapped her arms around them and put her head down, the gun still in her hand.

“He was a monster. You did the right thing.”

“He hurt me, Lu,” she cried, and rocked herself. Lu wrapped his arms around her, careful of the gun, careful of her wounded heart, careful of the pain and venom spilling from her eyes.

“It’s over. You did it. You won. We won.”

Years and years of misery. Of being tough. Of broken bones and dancing on swollen feet in front of men who looked at her like her father had always looked at her. And it was over. Over, with the tiniest of movements. Two short pulls on the trigger. A spasm in her pointer finger. That was it.

“Come on, baby.” Lu pulled her to her feet. Ran his fingers through her hair and told her she was beautiful, th