Fuck, what have I gotten myself into?
Epilogue
Michael Greene
In Another Section of Cell Block C at 5:55 p.m.
“Well, look who we have here,” I turn around and see six guys surrounding me. I recognize all of them as guys who may have taken a beating or two from me when I arrested them.
They’ve trapped me in a quiet corner of the cellblock. I hold my hands up in surrender and try to push past them.
“Hey, it’s that dirty cop that likes to kill pretty young girls,” another one of them says as he takes a menacing step toward me.
“We’re all the same in here, boys,” I say as I try to brush past the tight-knit group of guys closing in on me.
“Ha, seems he thinks he’s the same as us.”
The first punch lands on the side of my head, stunning me and knocking me off balance.
The next punch follows rapidly after the first and I know immediately I stand no chance against them.
The third punch hits my stomach and a swift kick behind my knees puts me down.
Feet keep kicking into me, fists pound hard into every part of my body.
I feel a snap in my arm and I scream out in agony. Someone laughs roughly and the beating gets more aggressive.
I try to protect my head but I can’t move my arms. They feel so heavy and the pain is unbearable. One of them turns me on my back, and the barrage of blows continues to intensify.
Finally I get turned on my stomach again. They prop my chin out, fully extending my neck.
In that one moment, I know what they’re going to do to me.
“I’m so sorry for all the girls I hurt,” I whisper as my tears drip to the cold concrete beneath me.
A hard shoe stomps on my neck.
Goodbye, Faith.
Epilogue
Oscar Shriver
In a different Section of Cell Block C at 5:55 p.m.
“Two thousand a week,” he says as he looks at me.
“Two thousand a week?” I ask in sheer shock.
“Protection is two thousand a week. You’re the hot-shot attorney that mommy and daddy kept bailing out. So for two thousand a week, I’ll protect you.” This guy is huge, and by huge, I mean he’s easily twice my size, scarred, and scary as fuck.
“Who do I need protection from?” I ask. I’ll find out who I need to worry about so I can barter with them individually.
“First there’re the white supremacists. They don’t like people raping white girls. Then there are the Asians. They don’t like Asian girls being tortured. And there’s the black pack who don’t like colored girls being mauled and cut up. Then there’s me. I don’t like rapists, period. So two thousand a week will protect you against them, and me, for now.”
“I don’t have that sort of money,” I say earnestly. “All my assets are frozen, and my parents are under investigation so they can’t get me any money either.”
“Hmmm, seems you have a problem then.” He smiles menacingly. “This is really your only option. I’m a reasonable man, so I’ll give you twenty-four hours to give me your answer. Ha, that is if you survive that long. I heard the blacks talking with the whites, seems now they’ve got a common goal – killing you.” He turns around and leaves me, alone.
This is so much worse than hell.
I’m truly fucked in here. If I survive that long. Fuck.
Who the hell am I going to turn to? The only person I know that’s not in shit as deep as me is Dominic, but he won’t accept my calls.
I tried to call him yesterday, but he’s changed his number. He’s changed all of his numbers.
I’m so fucking alone.
Epilogue
Six years later
“Where are we going?” I ask Dominic as I try to peek from beneath the silken blindfold he’s tied tight around my head.
“Are you trying to cheat?” he says playfully.
“No. Well, yes.”
“It’s not too much further. You’ll just have to wait and see.”
The car turns and the road becomes very bumpy, like we’re going down a trail of sorts.
“Come on, we’ve been in the car for hours,” I whine and draw out the last word.
“Mrs. Shriver, you are officially a pain in the ass.”
“Daddy said a naughty word,” Chloe chimes in from the back seat.
“Yes, Daddy did and he shouldn’t have. Sorry Chloe,” Dominic tells our eight-year-old daughter.
Chloe is a blessing. Dominic took me to China for our honeymoon, and while we were there, we visited an orphanage to offer our help. The most beautiful little girl came up to me and sat on my lap. Her right eye had been gouged out when she was a baby, her own short life a horrific case of torture. She placed her hand on my left eye and smiled at me. Though language and age was a barrier, she was silently telling me what I already knew – that we were the same.
Dominic and I fought hard, jumped over every hurdle and followed every instruction we were given. Three months later, we bought Chloe home with us.
She’s our rainbow and the most perfect daughter, completing our beautiful family.
As I reflect back on the miracle of Chloe, I can’t help but think how truly blessed Dominic and I are. Even though Dominic never spoke to his parents again, mine have been an integral part of our family. They’ve been nothing but supportive of us, and when we adopted Chloe they became the most appreciative and supportive doting grandparents.
Dominic and I are also close to Faith and her husband, Joshua, and their twin sons. We stood beside Faith and Joshua on their wedding day, and we were honored when they asked us to be godparents to their boys.
Life really has taken a different direction in the last eight years. I was once held captive by fear, only living my life in beige. Now I live with brilliant, vibrant colors, all because I found the courage to open my door.
The car engine shutting off snaps me out of my reverie. “Stay there ‘til I get you out,” Dominic says to me. “Now remember what we talked about, Chloe?”
“Oh yes I do, Daddy. I promise not to say a word.”
“Good girl.” Dominic gets out and shuts his door.
What is going on?
I hear Chloe’s door shut and the silence in the car tells me that I’ve been left alone.
I’m tempted to lift the blindfold, but I know that Dominic’s been planning whatever this is for months, and I don’t want to ruin his surprise.
He disappears when his phone rings, he hides his tablet, and once he yelled at me when I was doing laundry because I was checking his pockets for anything that wasn’t supposed to go through the wash. He bolted in and grabbed something from his shirt pocket, kissed me on the forehead and ran out again.
“Okay, give me your hand,” he says when he opens my door. I offer him my right hand and he entwines our fingers and helps me out. “The ground is a little unsteady, so we’ll go slow.” He wraps an arm around my waist.
The fresh spring air is so crisp and vibrant, and the sound of different birds singing together is heavenly. I breathe deeply loving the freshness.
“Three more steps and we’re going to stop,” he says.
Chloe is by my side and I can feel her holding onto my skirt as I take those daunting three steps.
“Okay. I’m going to take the blindfold off now.” His hands are at the back of my head as he unties the smooth piece of material.
It skims with a whisper across my skin as he removes it, and my eyes blink a few times to adjust to the brightness of the day.
In front of me stands a tall, regal horse, with dark brown hair and black pointy ears. He’s as beautiful and stunning as I remember him to be.
Mr. Boss.
Tears fall, and I start to breathe heavier. I’m completely stunned.
“How did you find him?” I ask as I step slowly toward the beautiful animal who’s calmly munching the grass in the paddock.
“It was a little hard, but I did.”
/> I swipe at the tears, a lump of happiness lodged in my throat.
“Are you sad, Mommy?”
“Oh no, darling I’m not sad at all. I’m really, really happy. What you and your daddy have done for me is just perfect. Thank you.” I kiss the top of her head, and turn to kiss Dominic too. “Are you sure it’s okay that we’re here? The owners may not like us trespassing like this,” I say to Dominic.
“Oh, the owners aren’t going to mind,” he says with that cheeky smile. “Because, as of yesterday, we now own this land and everything on it, including Mr. Boss.” His face beams with pride.
My heart thumps with the biggest jolt of joy and love I’ve ever experienced. I throw my arms around Dominic and kiss him with so much vigor and intoxication I almost knock him down.
“Tell her, Daddy! Tell her now!” Chloe shrieks in excitement as she pats Mr. Boss through the fence.
“Tell me what?” I ask as I pull back to look at Dominic.
“The adoption agency called this morning. They’ve found us a baby girl. We’re going to meet her tonight,” he says as he pulls me into a tight embrace.
“We’re adding a second perfect daughter to our beautiful family,” I squeal in excitement. As I reach out for Chloe it’s then that I see him, the beautiful blue jay soaring freely through the crystal clear skies.
THE END
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© 2014 Margaret McHeyzer
First published in 2014
All rights reserved. This book is copyright. Apart from the fair purpose of private study, research or review as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced without written permission.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover created by Book Cover By Design – Kellie Dennis.
ISBN: 978-0-9875337-7-7
My dear family who always support me: Andrew, Grace, Olivia and Mum.
To beautiful friends who I can count on for whatever I need: Tina, Melissa and Lindy.
My PIBC, who’s been incredibly patient with as my head runs in different directions: Heather.
A mentor and a treasured friend: Sue.
A new editor who came to me at the best of times: Debi.
My new proof-reader who’s happy to read everything I give him: Al.
My beta readers, who pushed me and told me the parts they loved and the parts that were MEH and needed to be fixed: Heather, Mandy and Brittany. (Welcome to the family girls.)
My very new street team, you ladies are truly fantastic for being part of the journey with me (to many more books): Shona and Hetty (my admin), Trish, Mandy, Shanda, Jennifer, Patricia, Maureen, Jess, Rachel, Amy and Brittany.
To a very special friend who’s believed in me from my very first book, HiT 149. The execution may have sucked (less sucky now) but you
read it and remained very courteous and professional in your critique. You’ve become more than my promo chick, and I think you know that. Thank you, for everything, Hetty.
Thank you to the blogs who continue to support me, but a very special mention to: Bestellers and Beststellars of Romance, Panty Dropping Book Blog and Kitty Kats Crazy About Books. These three are always there, and without hesitation will do what they can for me. And for that, I’m eternally grateful – because without you, us Indie authors would still be chasing our tails.
However, the most important thank you must come to you. The reader. Thank you for supporting me, for telling your friends and for doing what you do. Read!
Like me on FaceBook at Margaret McHeyzer Author
Email: [email protected]
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