CHAPTER 43
Kenzie
“Victor is dead.”
I looked up at Paige as she sat beside me in Dane’s suite at the resort the next day. Her expression was gentle, and it took a moment for the news to set in.
“How?” I asked.
“He tried to escape the police at the location set up to collect the ransom. He drew on them, and the police were forced to shoot him.”
Paige reached out and took my hand as reality set in.
“I’m free,” I whispered in shock.
She squeezed my hand. “You are. Thank God.”
“Is it bad that I’m glad he’s dead?” I asked her.
“Of course not,” she denied. “I’m glad he’s dead, too. We all are. I think it’s the only way you’ll ever heal. You’ve spent your whole life terrified of him, and looking over your shoulder. He doesn’t deserve any remorse. He was never your father.”
“All he wanted to be was my executioner.”
“He failed,” Paige said angrily.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. “Thank you for everything.”
She rose and moved to the couch to sit beside me before she swept me up in a giant hug. “All I’ve wanted was for you not to be afraid anymore. I wanted you to be able to stop running and looking over your shoulder in fear.”
I hugged her back. “I’m not sure I know how, but now that I’m free, I’d like to learn.”
“Dane will take care of you. He loves you.”
“I love him, too,” I confessed as we let go of each other.
“Take what you want, Kenzie. Don’t let the demons of your past win.”
I swiped a tear from my face. “I plan on shooting those bastards down,” I said jokingly.
Paige laughed. “Good. It took me a while to destroy mine. But we have to brush them off before we can really move on.”
I knew my best friend had exorcised her own demons. “I’ll do my best. Have fun on your honeymoon.”
I hated to see Paige go, but Dane and I were leaving ourselves within the next hour.
She winked. “I plan on it. How could I not? I’ll have Sebastian all to myself.”
Paige and her new husband were going to do some international travel before they went back to Denver. I was almost envious about their travel itinerary. “Try to see some things while you’re gone,” I teased.
“Seeing Sebastian naked is on the top of my list.”
I chortled. “You see that all the time.”
“And it never gets old,” Paige said with a sigh.
“I’m sorry that you had to deal with my disappearance right after your reception.”
I was remorseful that I’d forced her to postpone her honeymoon.
“I’m your friend, Kenzie. Do you think I care about that? Tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing for me.”
I couldn’t tell her that because I certainly would have done anything I could for Paige. “It still sucks,” I told her.
“That’s what friends are for,” she said. “I actually see you as family. Thank God we can pick our friends even though we can’t choose our family.”
“You’ve always been my only friend.”
“Same here,” she confided. “There aren’t many people I wanted to share my secrets with, but you understood when most people wouldn’t have.”
I nodded. I did understand. Both of us had guarded our secrets until we found someone who would understand. “If I hadn’t told you everything, Dane would probably never have found me.”
“I hope you forgive me for telling, but I knew you were in trouble.”
“I’m glad you did.”
Paige smiled. “Me, too. Try to be happy with Dane.”
“How could I not?” I said, amused. “I’ll have him all to myself once we get to Walker’s Cay.”
“Maybe you’ll see him naked,” Paige shot back at me.
“God, I hope so.”
We laughed together, both of us amused at the fact that we were so hung-up on our Walker men.
Paige finally stood up and smoothed down her sundress. “I have to run. Sebastian will be waiting.”
I rose from the couch. “Be safe,” I said. “Be happy.”
There was nothing more satisfying than seeing my friend so upbeat and carefree. Paige had always had a serious demeanor, probably because of her own past.
She hugged me again briefly. “You, too. I wish you lived closer to Denver. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too,” I said as I briefly hugged her back. “Why don’t you guys come to the island to visit?”
“Dane never asked Trace or Sebastian to visit. I think they felt like they were intruding,” Paige mused. “They thought Dane needed his space.”
“He doesn’t,” I told her. “He needs his brothers. Dane was going half-crazy on the island alone, but he was afraid to be out in public. I suspect he didn’t ask his brothers to visit because he felt…different. He couldn’t move on with his life, and he never quite healed.”
Paige nodded. “I think Sebastian realizes that now. He loves Dane. You have no idea how much. He just didn’t know what to do. He wanted to give Dane his space, but it was killing both him and Trace not to intrude.”
“They should intrude,” I shared. “As much as they like. Dane might grumble about it, but it would make him happy.”
Paige sighed. “Now that Sebastian knows that, he’ll be there. So will Trace. I know I wouldn’t complain about spending time there. It must be heavenly.”
“It is,” I assured her. “It’s quiet, but it’s beautiful.”
Paige picked up her purse. “We’ll be there often. I know Trace and Eva will as well. It might take Dane a while to completely let his brothers in, but they’ll keep trying until he does.”
“I think he’s ready,” I replied.
“Get him to come see us if you can,” she suggested.
“I will. I promise.”
There was one last hug before Paige left the suite, and I shut the door behind her.
My heart was light now that Victor was permanently gone from my life.
Nobody would ever come after me.
Nobody would hunt me down.
I wasn’t quite sure how to believe I’d never have to run again, but I’d definitely get used to it.
I’ll make it. I just have to find the strength to keep trying.
I smiled as I went to my bedroom to pack. I wasn’t going to need my old mantra anymore.
Dane hadn’t said anything about the future, but I didn’t even have to find the strength to keep trying.
Dane gave me strength.
He gave me love.
And I was going to make it.
Being free had opened up my whole life. If I didn’t have to run or be afraid, I’d find a way to be the person I’d always wanted to be.
No more shadows.
No more fear.
And best of all, no more secrets.
I packed my clothes with a confidence I’d never had, knowing I was more than ready to go home.