Page 113 of Lilly

"Bye, honey."

He goes to leave, but then comes back and hugs Rachel again. "Sorry, but after what happened today, one wasn't enough."

I feel the same way. Garret and I lost her once, and today, we almost lost her again. For good this time. I've been trying not to think about that but Garret just reminded me of it and now I'm flooded with emotion. That man almost killed her. She could've died.

"I love you, Mom." He keeps hold of her a moment longer before letting her go.

"I love you too." She smiles at him. "Now go home to those four beautiful children of yours. I'm sure Jade could use some help."

After he's gone, I take Rachel in my arms and don't let go.

"Pearce, what's wrong?"

"I almost lost you today."

"But you didn't. Because you taught me what to do."

"If he'd pulled the trigger before you had a chance to—"

"Pearce, don't do this. Don't talk about what could've happened. Just focus on the fact that it didn't." I feel her body sag in my arms as she lets out a breath. "I killed a man today. I took a life."

I pull back to look at her, my hands on her shoulders. "Listen to me. You will not feel guilty for that. I won't allow it. That man tried to kill you. He could've killed Lilly. It was self defense. You had no choice but to shoot him."

"But I didn't just shoot him. I killed him. I purposely shot him twice to make sure he was dead."

"Rachel, you had to. If that man were still alive, he'd come after you again. You did what you had to do. You did the right thing. You protected yourself. You protected Lilly." I bring her back into my arms. "I'm just sorry it ever happened." I hold her, and utter the words that keep circling in my head, "I will kill her."

Rachel hears me and pushes me back. "Kill who? What are you talking about?"

"Katherine. She did this to you. She told Phillip to have Dean kill you. It was his assignment and it was Katherine's idea."

I hadn't told her this until now. I didn't have a chance to.

"How do you know that? Did Phillip tell you?"

"No, but I know it was her. She hates that I'm married to you. She hates that you're raising Lilly and that Lilly sees you as her mother. Katherine did this. There's no doubt in my mind."

"You can't kill her, Pearce. You can't kill Lilly's mother."

"She's not a mother. She never has been. And I want her out of Lilly's life. For good."

"No. Pearce, we'll find some other way to deal with her. Don't do this."

"I'm not discussing this, Rachel. I will do what I need to do."

She sighs. "I feel like we're going back in time. Like we're repeating the past. I don't want to go back to that life. The violence. The revenge. People dying. We got away from all that and I don't want to go back."

"We're not. Now that Lilly knows the truth, this will end. She won't marry Reed and her mother's plan will never happen."

My phone dings and I check it quick and see a text from William, saying he took care of the issue with Garret and the clean-up crew.

"What is it?" Rachel asks.

"A text from William."

"How's he feeling?"

"Not well. When we talked earlier, he asked for my help again. He wants me to fly out there this week and attend some meetings with the board members."

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