22. Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Raina
Three months after Charles’s death
“Raina!”
Marissa flies out of her car and up the driveway as I run down the front steps. We crash into each other, a mess of limbs and tears.
I wasn’t able to reach out to her until a few days ago. For however much I wanted to support her through the aftermath of everyone’s deaths, we had to be careful. Erik was worried that the police might be watching Marissa to see if she was behind the murders, and he didn’t want me getting caught up in the investigation.
It killed me, keeping Marissa in the dark, but I know it was for the best. My existence—or lack thereof, depending on who you talk to—would raise a lot of questions that would lead to me and Erik being suspects. I took comfort in the fact that Erik somehow had inside information on the investigation. He promised me that if the murders got blamed on Marissa, he’d work behind the scenes to prove her innocence.
I’m just grateful it didn’t come to that.
“I was so worried about you,” Marissa exclaims, pulling back and holding me at arm’s length. “Oh, Raina, I’m so sorry. I should’ve done more to protect you.”
“I forgive you.”
Tears shine in Marissa’s eyes, almost hiding her shock. “You do?”
“He hurt you, too, didn’t he?”
“Not the way he hurt you,” Marissa whispers. “He never hit me or locked me away.”
“But he threatened you.”
She hesitates and then nods.
“Often?”
Looking down, Marissa nods again. “It was why I was always the good kid. Being his favorite was the safest place to be.”
Pushing her hair out of her face, I say, “He ruled over you with fear. I used to think he loved you, but…” I lift my gaze to Erik, who’s leaning against the front door and watching us with a faint smile on his lips. “I’ve learned that that’s not actually love.”
“I know,” she whispers. “I’ve known for a while, even though I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I still didn’t try to get you out. Not until it was too late. Not until—”
“Shh, shh.” I wrap my arms around her. “I saw how he threatened you, Mar. I’ll always wish you could’ve helped me, but I understand that you couldn’t.”
A warm breeze wraps around both of us. Spring has finally shown up, although the weather app on my phone says there’ll be a cold snap this weekend.
The moment the temperature got to above fifty degrees, Erik started finding me curled up in the window seat he had made for me, taking in the fresh air. It makes him laugh, seeing me cuddled up under three blankets just to have the window open, but he told me he doesn’t mind. As long as I remember to lock the window afterward, that is. He’s particularly insistent on that.
“Thank you,” Marissa whispers.
I tug her toward the house. “Let’s go inside. I want you to meet Erik.”
We head up the steps as Marissa takes in the mansion. It’s so different than Charles’s. Darkness doesn’t linger here.
As we step over the threshold, I pause and let Erik wrap an arm around my shoulders. He kisses the top of my head.
“Proud of you, little rose.”
At first, Erik didn’t want me to forgive my sister. He tried to keep his feelings to himself, but I could see it in the way he clenched his jaw whenever I brought her up. There were quite a few times that Marissa could’ve tried to help me more, but when it came down to it, she was just as powerless as I was.
It took Erik a while to understand, but he eventually came around. For so many years, Marissa was all I had. I don’t want to lose her.
“What smells so good?” Marissa asks, looking around the foyer. “It’s making me realize how hungry I am.”
I grin. “Soup and fresh-baked bread. Erik has been teaching me how to cook.”
“Really?” She glances between the two of us bashfully. “Would… you be willing to give me a couple pointers, too?”
Erik smiles, the sparkle in his eyes genuine. “I’d love to.”
Taking Marissa’s hand in mine, I tug her toward the kitchen. “This way!”
She follows with a laugh, Erik right behind us. My heart warms at the sound, and at finally having the two people I care about the most in the same room. Up until this point, it’s felt like Erik and I have been in a waiting period. I haven’t been able to truly move on with my life without Marissa in it.
But now, my heart is soaring. I’m free, and I’m loved, and I’m ready for my fresh start.