Page 18 of Sin of Innocence

“I’m changing my major. I’m going to dive deeper into this because after saving this many people,thus far, I think I am ready to save more,” I stated.

Emanuel placed a kiss on top of my head. “I am so proud of you, Christina.”

“Yeah, me too,” my dad said.

“Ma’am,” a police officer called out as he stepped into the room. I glanced over at him to watch as he twisted the volume dial to his small portable radio down. “We have one of the survivors here. She says she won’t do anything unless she thanks you first. Will that be okay?”

I anxiously nodded my head just before studying the small girl who entered the room. She was beautiful and if it weren’t for the bruises that tainted her skin, it would be more obvious. I almost broke down at the sight of her black eye and teary cheeks.

I opened my mouth to speak, but she had already thrown herself into my arms and wept.

“Thank you! Thank you!” she cried out. My eyes began to get glassy as I wrapped my arms around her.

“What’s your name?” I asked her. No matter her answer, I knew her name was going to be engraved in my mind forever. She was the first person I ever helped, but she wouldn’t be the last.

“Stephanie. Stephanie Hearse,” she sniffled before pulling away. “I’m sorry for crying all over you. I thought my life was over, but then the police came and… I felthopeagain. You brought hope for me and I will never forget that.”

I wiped away my tears as a huge smile spread across her face. “You are so strong.”

She smiled softly before looking over at Emanuel and then my father. Her eyes began to tear up as she mouthed a soft ‘thank you’. They both nodded their head and smiled gracefully at her. She wiped away her tears once more before walking out of the hospital room. The police officer followed closely behind her.

When she left, Emanuel grasped my hand softly. I smiled over at him, feeling my heart grow heavy at the sight in front of me. Hazel, Dad, and Emanuel—three people who felt like family. They helped me find my true purpose. I was going to help more girls like Stephanie Hearse, if it were the last thing I do.

THE END.

Epilogue

EMANUEL

My two favorite phrases in the world weremy wifeandChristina Mariano. I was so proud of the woman she was becoming. It was crazy to think about how everything began. She was a young girl wrapped in a cocoon, just waiting for someone to come along and teach her how to fly.

With her organization that she started, she was able to save thousands of people. Some, she helped find, others she helped prevent from getting taken by people like Liam Franco. She learned to speak out against high profile people, she was able to uncover many millionaires who contributed to Liam’s trafficking ring. Just like Liam, they were given a life sentence without parole. No longer was Liam out on the streets trying to do what he had attempted with my wife. He was gone, and he would be gone forever.

She was truly herself when she would spend long hours finding ways to help those who most needed it. She wanted to make the world a safer place, and I couldn’t do anything but admire her for it.

Even now, as she stood there, swaying her hips to the sound of the music as she ignored the burning pancakes on the stove, I just had to smile.

If only she hadn’t been acting so strange for the past couple of days. Every time I tried to ask her about it, she would shut me down and change the subject.

Getting up from where I sat on the couch, I crept up on Christina before sliding my arms around her waist. I kissed the inside of her neck right as the sweet aroma of baked goods infiltrated my nose. She had been trying to cook for a few days now, knowing fully well that she lacked in that department. At first, I thought she was trying to pick up a hobby, but her frustrations when failed, proved to me that maybe that wasn’t the case.

“You’re burning the pancakes, baby,” I pointed out.

She softly pushed me away before running over to her burnt pancakes. A loud groan erupted from her lips as she hurriedly turned off the stove.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I chuckled. “This is why you have me. I will cook whatever you want me to, whenever you would like me to.”

“No, you don’t get it,” she sighed. “I was planning this huge breakfast for you where I was going to make this big deal to tell you…”

She so easily piqued my interest as my brow arched to accommodate my confusion. “Tell me, what?”

A smile quickly spread across her face. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t the positive pregnancy test she lifted up to show me. My face felt as though it replicated her big grin. We had been trying to get pregnant for a few months now. It was always a dream of mine to start a family and do-over all the terrible things that went wrong in my childhood, correctly.

“How far along are you?” I asked, feeling my heart swell up in happiness.

“I’m three weeks along, but I found out two days ago. I have just been looking for the perfect time to tell you,” she answered. I pulled her into my chest with my arms wrapping her.My little vixen was pregnant.

“I’m going to be a dad. You’re going to be a mom. Christina, we are actually going to have a family,” I let out in amazement. She nodded her head, her smile never faltering from her lips.

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