Chapter 13 - HOME
Everyone told me not to go.
So naturally, I went.
Not alone.
I wore a wire.
Federal agents surrounded the neighborhood.
Tobias wanted to come.
I refused.
“You’re bleeding through your stitches.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“You got hit by an SUV three days ago.”
“Again with the details.”
I hugged him.
For the first time since the river.
“Stay.”
He looked at me.
Then nodded.
Our house looked exactly the same.
That was the worst part.
Garrett’s shoes by the door.
Our wedding picture on the wall.
The ceramic bowl I bought in Maine.
A life preserved like a museum exhibit.
“Garrett?”
“In here.”
I followed his voice to the kitchen.
He sat at the table.
Two mugs.
Steam rising.
Warm milk.
I stared at them.
He smiled.
“Old times.”
“You’re sick.”
“Probably.”
I sat opposite him.
His gun rested beside his hand.
“Why did you call me?”
“I wanted you to understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“No, you don’t.”
He pushed a folder toward me.
Inside were documents.
DNA results.
Embryology reports.
My name.
His.
A frozen embryo ID.
Penelope’s implantation records.
My hands shook.
“You did this.”
“I gave us a child.”
“You violated me.”
“You didn’t want children.”
“I said I wasn’t ready.”
“You were never ready for anything except work.”
There it was.
The resentment beneath the manipulation.
“You hated me.”
“I hated needing you.”
He leaned forward.
“Do you know what it’s like to spend three years smiling at someone who has everything you were raised to believe should be yours?”
“Yes.”
He blinked.
“Penelope does.”
His jaw tightened.
“You think she’s innocent?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“She betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
“But she didn’t try to drown me.”
His eyes hardened.
“She helped.”
“I know.”
“And you forgive her?”
“I haven’t decided.”
He sat back.
“That’s your problem, Rosie.”
“What?”
“You always think people can change.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
I touched my wire beneath my blouse.
“I just think people eventually show you who they really are.”
His face changed.
He reached across the table and ripped the wire free.
I froze.
He looked at it.
Then smiled.
“You really thought I wouldn’t check?”
Outside, every federal agent was now listening to silence.
Garrett picked up the gun.
“Stand up.”
I did.
“Where are we going?”
May you like
He pointed toward the basement door.
“Where I should have killed you the first time.”
