Page 176 of Love Me

We did everything right. While pulling Celine to my side, I rummage through my head, looking for any mistakes. I watch Thomas exit the car to open the back passenger door for Grandmother. Seeing Celine, he grabs a first-aid kit from the car and rushes to her.

“What is she doing here?”

“I guess Grandmother had to make herself presentable first,” Celine groans. “I don’t know if she’s on our side or not.”

“The letter?”

“Yes.”

Grandmother steps out and looks around. Her eyes brew with disdain, but her body takes careful steps. She’s weaker than usual.

It’s just uncanny how she holds herself. She demands respect and oozes authority. The longer she takes us in, the more strained I become. Thank god Thomas is helping Celine right now, or I’d lose my damn mind.

Her lips are pursed, and rage blares in her eyes. “I raised traitors.”

I thought it was impossible for her to let emotions get the best of her. She walks to Felix and Caleb with confident steps, and adds, “And now order is restored.”

“What?” we all ask.

“For every year that you stabbed me in the back, for every year I considered you family, for every year you held my daughter, you will suffer twice.”

She walks to her granddaughter, and guilt is etched on her face.

“Took you long enough.”

“I don’t have your energy anymore, Celine.”

“Ignore me bleeding out here, Granny.”

“You’ll survive. Now, where is my daughter?” she asks, looking around.

“With my father.”

Incredulity colors her face. “Cassandra’s coming home with me.”

“Mom will decide that.”

Grandmother turns to her men and says, “Take the traitors with you.”

An explosion ripples through the building igniting a wave of dirt and debris. I have to give it to Dane. He knows how to blow things up. Grandmother looks straight into the fire and says, “That was quite unnecessary.”

Flames engulf the building, licking at the cement. We watch enraptured, as if we need to quiet the demons inside of us––from the place they were birthed.

“I expect to see you all on Friday at dinner.”

She retreats to her car while we look at her openmouthed.

“She’s unbelievable,” Celine says.

Grandmother is the least of my worries now as I count the seconds before Celine is properly taken care of.

The paramedics arrive, and they put Celine on the gurney while I hold her hand. They rush her inside the ambulance.

Teeth chattering, she shivers. Her pain guts me. I take her hand and one of them says, “Let us do our job.”

“Kaden.” Her voice calms me down, strengthening my belief she will be fine.

We speed toward the hospital while I hold her hand. My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach when she is wheeled away to the OR.

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