Chapter 61
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
dani
Something warm was squeezing my hand, slowly waking me up. I kept my eyes closed as everything rushed back to my head. My heart pattered faster when Leo’s last moments replayed in my mind. Did that all happen or was it a dream?
There was hushed voices surrounding me, and it sounded like tense bickering. But I wasn’t focused on that. I was trying to figure out if my monster was actually dead.
I couldn’t feel any pain. I remembered getting hurt. My ankle, my ribs. I should feel everything if it all really happened. My mind was still hazy and sluggish, making it hard to concentrate.
“I don’t care what you had to do. As long as it’s done.”
Kole’s irritated voice snapped through my daze. My chest swelled, relief filling me. I shifted, realizing the warmth I felt was a hand on mine. The talking stopped, and silence filled the air as I blinked my eyes open. The harsh lights revealed a small hospital room.
“Hey,” Kole said softly, a tight smile forming on his lips. His right arm was in a sling, and his face was black and blue, scattered with stitched up cuts. “How are you feeling?”
My mouth was dry, and I cleared my throat, glancing down to see an IV on the inside of my elbow. I went still when my gaze drifted farther down my arm, where a handcuff encircled my wrist. My mind swam with this, and I came to two conclusions.
I was so doped up on drugs, I couldn’t feel any of my injuries.
And Susan was right. I was going right back to prison.
“He’s going to take it off,” Kole said gruffly, squeezing my hand. “Everything is going to be fine.”
I frowned. He? It was then I realized Kole and I weren’t alone. A man I didn’t recognize was leaning against the wall, holding a thick file. He gave me an unsure smile before striding closer.
“I’m Sean,” he introduced himself. “Kole said he’s mentioned me?”
I licked my cracked lips, nodding slowly. This was the man who helped Kole get his life together. What the hell was he doing in my hospital room?
I turned my attention back to Kole. “Is he dead?” I asked, my voice hoarse and cracking.
His grip on my hand tightened. “He’s gone, Dani.”
I sagged against the pillow, closing my eyes.
Emotions were threatening to rip me apart, and the medication was not helping.
I couldn’t think clearly. Prison was a hellish time when I was thrown into solitary.
But if I had to do it over again, I’d do it all the same.
Knowing my monster was dead was worth it.
He would never hurt anyone I cared about, especially Kole.
But right now, the sadness was crushing. I squeezed Kole’s hand, inhaling a breath, relishing in his leather and fresh soap scent. I didn’t want to say goodbye to him.
“Leo Hall.” Sean spoke up as I opened my eyes. He gently set the file beside me on the bed. “This is everything we could find on him. I thought you’d want to look at it.”
I stared at the file, my heart thudding. “Was Miles really his son?”
“Yes,” Sean answered. “Records show he and a girlfriend had a baby when they were fifteen. Miles grew up in the system until Leo gained custody when he was nine years old. After that…we don’t know much.
Miles was never enrolled in school, and they disappeared until Leo was arrested for armed burglary. ”
Once I was off the strong pain meds, I’d read the file. Right now, I couldn’t focus enough to think about it. The important thing was they were both gone.
“How long can I stay in the hospital?” I whispered, meeting Kole’s gaze. “I want to spend a couple days before I get transferred.”
“You’re not going to jail, Dani,” Kole replied, shooting Sean a look. “Have them unlock the handcuffs.”
Sean sighed. “Not yet. She needs to sign the paperwork first.”
My eyes darted between them. “What paperwork?”
Kole reached down, grabbing a stack of papers from his lap. His small grin reassured me. “Ready to sign your life away?”
“What’s going on?” I breathed out.
“Kole wanted you to walk out of here a free woman,” Sean said, nerves in his voice. “But after you killed two men with witnesses—”
“Murderers,” Kole cut him off sharply. “Two murderers.”
Sean raised his hands. “Either way—you can’t walk away like nothing happened. Susan believes you’re still a danger to society.”
“Of course she does,” I muttered, my eyes dropping back to the handcuff.
“But Kole believes the opposite,” Sean said softly. “And his judgment is part of the reason our experiment has been so successful. I value his word. So, I would like to offer you a spot at Winterlake.”
“A spot,” I repeated, surprise lacing my voice. “As an inmate?”
“Kind of. You’ll be doing similar work as Kole does. Help profile inmates who would be good candidates.”
My eyes widened. “Susan’s job?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Kole gritted out. “Susan will keep her job.”
“You’ll continue to work at the police station, but just like Kole, you’ll watch.” Sean handed me a pen. “You can take all the time you need to read everything over.”
“Is there a certain time I have to serve?”
He glanced at Kole. “As of right now, it’s ten years. But the current therapist can bring that date forward or…” he cleared his throat. “If you do anything to jeopardize your spot at Winterlake, you’ll go back to prison and serve the rest of your life sentence.”
Knots coiled in my stomach. Susan did not like me. What would stop her from sending me back to prison even if I did follow the rules?
“Susan isn’t the final voice,” Kole said in a hushed voice. “It goes up to the board and through me too. They would need evidence of any wrongdoing for that to happen.”
I doubted Kole would have any say in my future because of our relationship but didn’t comment.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Sean chuckled. “You have no plans on murdering anyone else, do you?”
His words were joking, but I didn’t miss the lingering look he gave me. I had a feeling he believed I was capable of killing again. The thing was—he was right. I could easily fall back into the life I had before I went to prison. And if I kept going after monsters, I would probably enjoy it.
My eyes drifted back to Kole. “Are you staying in Winterlake?”
“I’ll be wherever you are, Dani.” He leaned over the side of the bed, brushing his lips to mine. “Always.”
My chest tightened. “Even after everything you learned about me?”
“I’m gonna go get some food,” Sean announced his exit. “If you have any questions about the papers, have Kole call me. It was nice to meet you, Dani. You must be someone special for Kole to fight so hard for you.”
He strolled out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Kole put his knuckles under my chin, gently tilting my face up.
“I’m sorry they hurt you,” he said gruffly, his gaze darkening when he looked over my injuries. “I never should have given them a chance to touch you—”
“Don’t,” I cut in, grabbing his wrist. “You’re the reason I survived, Kole.”
He arched an eyebrow, a frown on his lips.
“When I was falling down that hill, all I could see was you.” My voice cracked slightly. “You’re the reason I fought so hard.”
He blew out a breath. “If anything happened to you…”
“I’m right here.” I hesitated. “Did you learn more about my past?”
“Sean told me a little. I want to hear it from you.” His thumb brushed my cheek lightly. “Not now. When you’re better.”
“What if you see me as a monster?” I whispered, panic slicing me. But I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it now that he knew. If Kole wanted me, then he deserved to know everything. “Because in many people’s eyes, I am. I’ve done horrible things to people.”
“The people you killed—were they like Leo and Miles?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re a good little serial killer.” He laughed at my wide-eyed shock. “Too soon?”
“I—I’m not used to talking about it to anyone.” My cheeks heated. “But I’ll tell you if you want to know.”
“We’ll have all the time we want when we’re back in Winterlake.”