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CHAPTER 76

Author: Holly S Roberts
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Celina

I choose the guest room to sleep in because I don’t feel comfortable crawling between Alex’s sheets in his bedroom. I lie awake for a long time and think about Alex and Kiley—Alex the killer and Kiley the young, innocent child. I barely know either of them and they’ve both changed my life. How do I reconcile what’s happening?

I never expected to fall asleep, but I jerk awake when the lamp beside the bed comes on. Squinting, I make out Alex resting his hip on the bed beside me. His tie is loosened and he appears exhausted. I fight myself to not reach out and smooth my hand across his face. The agony I read in his expression is a physical ache that hits me hard. He blinks and gains control. Now I want to wrap him in my arms because I know he’s masking the pain.

“Is there a reason you’re not in my room?” he asks quietly. His voice sounds strange. I’m not sure if he’s pissed off or trying not to startle me.

I roll in his direction which puts me closer. I smell him, he’s showered an
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    AlexThe shit will go down tomorrow, or, I look at the large clock on the wall, later today. Mak and Celina stayed in the conference room while Dax explained his plan. He drew a map of the house and gave specifics about Fox’s orders if anyone came for the child.There are two guards, one always with Kiley. In the room where they’re keeping her, there’s a floor to ceiling bookcase with a hidden safe behind it. The orders are to snap Kiley’s neck, stuff her in the safe, and get the hell out. Dax said there’s a small indent next to the safe for Kiley to hide. He will deliver the doll to her, take out the guard in the room, and settle Kiley behind the bookcase. His opinion is that the riskiest part is showing up with the doll and displaying attachment to the child. He thinks he can talk his way in and the house guard may join his side. He can’t be a hundred percent sure and that worries me.If all goes as planned, he will handle the guard stationed directly on Kiley so she’s safe. He want

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    CoriThe air in the room was soft if that were even a thing. There were four rows of chairs. There was a podium at the front. No crucified Jesus hung from the wall, only a large framed needlepoint with writing.“Enter in peace and leave your sorrow.”I sat in the front row and bowed my head. My prayer was to Jesus.“I’ve never asked for anything.”Tears gathered in my eyes and turned to sobs. I couldn’t go on and fell apart. So many thoughts tumbled through my head. I was the whore of Babylon. If there were a man who would hear me, it would be Jesus.“Please,” was all I managed the next time I tried.The quiet settled over me and I inhaled in and out slowly. Within a few minutes, I wiped my tears. The room, like Duke with his silence, gave me peace. It also gave me strength.I went back to ICU and held his hand again. He wouldn’t die because I wouldn’t let him. I spoke to him quietly and assured him all would be okay. I spoke of silly things. I had to keep the connection so he knew I

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