I was sitting on the end of my bed, holding Shelby in my lap.

“I can’t believe it’s over,” she whispered, trembling in my arms. “I can’t believe he’s gone”—she paused—“or that I killed him.”

Resting my chin on top of her head, I rubbed my hand up and down her back in long, smooth strokes. “Don’t you dare feel guilty, Shelby.”

I slowly began to rock her.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

She shook her head. The movement was so slight, I barely noticed it. “I don’t feel guilty. If anything I feel relieved.” I opened my mouth to say something but snapped it closed when she kept speaking. “For the first time in eight years, I feel like I can finally breathe.” Tilting her head back, she looked up at me. “Are they going to arrest me?”

I scowled. “Fuck no.” It was the truth. “It doesn’t matter who Damien’s daddy is, the evidence can’t be refuted. The DA already said he’s treating it as self-defense. You don’t have anything to worry about, beautiful.”

After the police interviewed everyone that had been at Grandmama’s house—including Liam and Declan, who’d explained how Damien got his hands-on Lucca—the police weren’t going to do shit. I gritted my teeth just thinking about it.

Apparently, the sick son of a bitch saw the boys playing in the kitchen alone through the patio door. Knowing that it was a once in a lifetime shot, he knocked on the door and told Liam that he was one of Hendrix’s friend. Liam, being an innocent six-year-old opened the door not realizing how dangerous it was. When Damien grabbed Lucca, he told Liam and Declan both that he would kill Lucca if they cried or told anyone.

It’s why he had enough time to plant Lucca as bait and wait for Shelby to appear. The power going out had been a fluke. Damien had nothing to do with that.

Shelby shivered against me so I tightened my hold on her. “What about his family? Will I have to fight them for custody? I don’t have any money. I can’t—”

Wrapping my hand around her chin, I lifted her face to meet mine. “Baby, listen to me.” The tears filling her eyes nearly broke my heart. “Damien’s family might be rich, and they might be powerful, but above all else, they’re political. They’re going to try and distance themselves from you as much as possible. I would bet everything I own that you won’t ever hear from those people.” Relief washed over her features. “In fact, I bet they’ll take steps to keep you from coming after them… financially so to speak.”

Shelby rolled her eyes. “Pffft... I don’t want their money. I just want them to forget Lucca, and I exist.”

“I think that’s probably what will happen,” I replied, honestly.

“What now?”

I smile before pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Now, we move on.”

My woman ran the tip of a finger down the side of my face. “Just like that?”

I nodded. “Just like that.” Standing up, I moved Shelby to the other side of the bed. Pulling back the blanket, I laid her down before climbing in beside her. “Listen to me, sunshine. From this moment forward, I don’t ever want to hear another word about your mom, about Damien, about what happened in the past… none of it. It’s over, it’s done, and we’re not going to give them another second of power over us. Got it?”

Shelby hesitated.

Then, “I’ve got it.” She licked her lower lip and turned on her side to face me fully. “From this moment on, they don’t exist.”

Good girl.

“Exactly.” Wrapping my arm around her, I pulled her into me. “From this moment on, every breath you take will be free of their toxic bullshit, yeah?” Again, she nodded. “From this moment on, it’s just me, you, Lucca and your crazy family.”

Snorting, Shelby playfully smacked my chest. “They’re not crazy.”

I raised a brow. “Have you met Grandmama?” Shaking my head, I looked at her in disbelief. “Hell, after hearing about what happened at the Bachelorette party, I’m beginning to think Clara and Hope are loco too.”

Tossing her head back, my girl laughed. Hard.

It was one of the most beautiful sounds I’d ever heard.

After a few seconds, her laughs quieted to giggles. “Will you take me to see Felix tomorrow?” She plucked at the collar of my shirt with her fingers. “I miss him and I know he misses us.”

“Of course I will. I’ll take you to see him whenever you want.”

Shelby’s eyes slid closed. “Can you go get Lucca out of his playpen? I want him to sleep with us tonight. I don’t like—”

I pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. “I’ll get him. Don’t you move. I don’t want you to mess up your side or your shoulder any more than you already have.”

“Oh, please,” she mumbled, half asleep. “My side is just a superficial wound, and my shoulder is only bruised. Don't be a ninny, Tony.”

Climbing out of bed, I stood next to her. “I don’t care, sunshine. You’re hurt; therefore you keep your happy ass in my bed, yeah?”

“Whatever, Tony,” she hissed playfully. “Just go get my son.”

I leaned over, kissing her one last time. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get our son.”

Without waiting for her to reply, I walked out of the room.