We relocated to a tiny apartment in rural Colorado. It had mismatched furniture and a faulty heater but for the first time in years there was peace. I cooked pasta with the little money I had left. Brielle slept with her head on Jace’s shoulder. I spent nights hunched over legal documents, preparing for what was coming.
One evening the prepaid phone rang. I picked up.
“You ruined everything,” Grayson snarled. His voice was slick with venom. “You could have stayed quiet. We could have ruled the world together. Instead you chose betrayal.”
“I chose my family,” I answered. “And I would choose them again.”
“Do you think you can hide behind that girl and that alley rat. I will find you. I will burn what is left of your dignity to ash.”
“No,” I said calmly. “You already did. I am building something new.”
I hung up and smashed the phone in the sink.