One month later, the Maddens are left with their house and cars, but nothing else. In exchange for not alerting the authorities and bringing charges against them, they agreed to sign all other assets over to me, and I, in turn, donated them charities for abused women in honor of my friend, Lia, and to organizations benefiting children.
Max asked me after that how I felt about Hoyt and Celia getting away with kidnapping with nothing but a slap on the wrist. And I told him that I agreed with Daisy. If we set out with vengeance in our hearts, how are we better than they were? Plus, considering the size of the fortune Hoyt lost, I had to believe he would suffer greatly knowing that eventually he’d be forced to get a job to maintain his lifestyle. Shit, as they say, runs downhill, and I had a feeling that Hoyt would be swimming against the current very soon. I know that my decision not to go to the police is a hard one for the lawyer in him to handle. He would have rather I gotten justice in the traditional manner, but I had no desire to put myself through the media circus that would have ensued.
As for me, I still struggle with the urge to cut myself when life becomes stressful. After confronting Hoyt and Celia, I'd even purchased a razor. But again, I’d been strong enough to hold back. I wasn't healed as such, because like with any addiction, it remains within your psyche. But I'm slowly working out why I first started. Yes, it had been about taking back control, but the constant berating, constant belittling, constant control had demeaned me so completely that the pain became my friend. I don't need it as my friend anymore. One day at a time, Joanna constantly drills into me, and that’s exactly how I’m living my life. I’m grateful for each and every moment with my love.
Acknowledgments
A special note of thanks to my wonderful PA Amanda Lanclos.
* * *
A thank you to Kim Killion with Hot Damn Designs for your wonderful cover. And to my editors: Marion Archer and Jenny Sims with Editing 4 Indies. Love you ladies!
* * *
And to my blogger friends, Catherine Crook with A Reader Lives a Thousand Lives, Jennifer Harried with Book Bitches Blog, Christine with Books and Beyond, Jenn with SMI Book Club, Chloe with Smart Mouth Smut, Shelly with Sexy Bibliophiles, Amanda and Heather with Crazy Cajun Book Addicts, Stacia with Three Girls & A Book Obsession, Lisa Salvary and Confessions of a Book Lovin Junkie.
Coming May 2016
Aidan
Pre-order available now at select outlets
Rose Page 22