Page 66 of Submission

“A man who is going to make sure that you live the rest of your days out in the manner you deserve. You’re going to love it. It’s right up your alley. Dicks everywhere.”

I make my way up to the penthouse, some of my anger relieved. When I enter, the first person I see is Lars, and I start barking out demands.

“Find out how a family of three got weaseled their way into this building and Megan’s apartment. I selected this building for security, which there seems to be little of these days. Handle that.”

Lars knows exactly what I mean when I tell him to handle it.

He hesitates for a moment as he passes by me and then says, “She went to your room, and she won’t leave. Lena tried to get in to talk to her, but she’s not even letting her in.”

“Thanks.” I nod. “I’ll handle it.”

Seeing my sister on the couch, looking miserable, I stop by her first. This is not the way I wanted a reunion with her to be full of drama at every turn.

“Megan is going to be fine,” I promise her.

“What happened?” Lena looks terrified. “She was fine before I left to go back to the car.”

I look towards my bedroom door and decide not to lie. Lena’s not much younger than Megan and she’s an adult. I have to start treating her like one.

“Her family broke in and tried to hurt her. She’s upset. I’ll deal with it.”

“I’ll…“ She looks around. “I’ll make some dessert or something. Something cold. It’ll help. It might help.”

She seems desperate to do something to help, which may just be a biological trait we both share, so I nod. “I don’t have much in the fridge, so order whatever you need from a delivery service. I’ll be inside talking to Megan.”

When I enter the bedroom, Megan is lying on her side in the fetal position on a corner of my bed, the silk duvet around her.

I sit down next to her. “You okay?”

“No,” comes the small voice, almost childlike.

“Well…” I tuck the duvet a bit tighter around her, and she lets me. “I paid your father back in blood if it makes you feel better.”

She pops her head from under the covers but doesn’t say anything just yet. She simply watches me as I lean back against the headboard of the bed. I motion for her to come to me with my hands, and when she complies, I adjust her so that she’s sitting between my legs.

“I don’t hit women, Megan, so I didn’t physically hurt his wife or your sister, but I have made arrangements to make sure that they will feel the same amount of suffering you did.”

“Does it make me a bad person to want that?” she asks in a teary voice. “Do you think I’m awful?”

“No.” I wrap my arms around her from behind. “It doesn’t. Some crimes you can forgive or let the wheels of justice handle. But some crimes have to be punished, and this will be their punishment.”

Megan is silent, and I can feel her small body move with soft sobs. I hate the sound of her silent cries. Each time her shoulders heave, it feels like something is clawing at my chest.

“Megan,” I murmur her name. “Can you live with my decision? There’s time for me to adjust the plan.”

She just cries harder.

My Megan is not usually a crier, but I can understand that she’s all torn up inside right now, so I just hold her tightly and let her get it out of her system.

I don’t know how long it takes for her to finally relax in my arms, but when she does, she begins to talk and tell me a story that I’m not completely sure I am ready to hear.

Chapter 26

It’s Time I Tell You

Hunter

“There was a brief moment when I really believed that things would work out for me,” Megan starts her story as if she’s humiliated with herself.

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