Page 117 of Pretty Little Fears

“Itwas my fault.Iwas so obsessed with claiming you, tying you to me.Ididn’t think.Ididn’t know that it would end up that way.IfIhad never done that, you wouldn't have lost the baby,” he sighs.

“Don’tget me wrong,Iwill still claim you.Iwill put my baby in you.Butthis time you’ll have a constant shadow at your back, there is not a step you will take thatIwon't be there to watch.”Iroll my eyes and lightly chuckle at his certainty to do these things to me.Heshakes his head, grabbing my chin and pulling me to face him. “I’mserious.Iwill never let that happen to you again.Ifyou thoughtIwas psychotic or overly obsessive before, you’re in for a rude awakening,Blair.”

Atear starts to form on my lash and flows down my cheek asIprocess his confession.Iwrap my arms around his waist, burying my face into his chest.

“Iwanted to be happy about it,Emmett.IfIhad found out earlier, or in different circumstances,Iwould’ve been so fucking happy.”Icry in his embrace. “Theysaid vile, nasty things about the baby,Emmett.”Itremble asIrecount the words that were spewed at me.

Hisface falls further than it did before. “Well, it’s a good thing they’re all dead.Everysingle person involved in your kidnapping, auction, and purchase is dead.Ifsomeone tries to hurt you or our family ever again,I’llmake sure they regret it.I’llmake sure they die.Iknow there’s absolutely nothingIcan do to justify the ways thatI’veadded to your hell, butIpromise you, my little obsession,Iwill always protect you.Now, until my very last breath.”

Inod and place a soft kiss against his lips.It’lltake some time, butIbelieveI’llget there.Ibelieve we’ll get there.Hissupport thus far has proven to meI’mnot alone in this, andI’mtrying to accept that.

Hepulls me out of my thoughts with his deep, raspy tone, “Let’shead home, little obsession.Iwant my desert.”Hesmirks while holding his hand out to me.Placingmine in his own,Ilet him pull me up and take me back to his house to no doubt be devoured until the sun sets.

Andonce more when it rises again.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

EMMETT

Mymom wanteda few days to be alone.Herreaction was completely the opposite ofBlair’s, who had clung to me, afraid if she let go she’d end up back in the clutches of the monsters.Sera, on the other hand, was more than happy to be alone.

Shewanted her space and time to process the past sixteen years of her life before talking about what happened.Iget it.She’sbeen staying at a cabin our family owns a little ways upstate.Theplace hasn't seen anyone since before she died…or left?

Needlessto say,I’meager to learn what happened and get some long-awaited answers.Ipull up to the cabin and turn the car off.Sittinginside for a few minutes to calm my racing heart before heading inside.Mybrain still hasn't caught up to the fact she’s alive.

Gettingout of my car,Iwalk to the door and knock before pushing it open, announcing my arrival.

“Hey, mom.I'mhere!”Ishout.Fuck, saying that feels weird.It’schilling, yet comforting.Walkinginto the home,Ienter the living room.Thelarge windows showcase the back porch and the lake further outback.Treesgo on for miles, secluding the cabin.

Onthe back porch, my mother stands in front of a canvas, paintbrush in hand and wildly stroking.Iwalk towards the back door to make my way outside as a small smile curves my lips.

Thesound of the door opening causes her to turn her head, looking over at me.

“HiSunshine.”Shesmiles.Holdingout her arm to me for a hug.Iwrap my arms around her and breathe her in.Hersmell is nostalgic, taking me back to the time we would hide out in her shed for hours, painting and creating.

Ilook at the canvas, showcasing a portrait.Theimage shows the inside of the person's mind.Acement room with a woman in the corner fills its space.Mymother’s art has always represented her life,I’mglad she’s decided to return to using art as an outlet. “Iknow you said you needed time, butIwould like some answers.I'velived the majority of my life thinking you died.”Iblurt out, no longer able to bite my tongue.

Shegives me a nod as she places her paintbrushes down and takes off her apron.

“Let’ssit?”Shemotions to head down to the chairs at the end of the deck.Wetake a seat, andIlook out at the scenery.Thecalm lake does not match the frantic pounding of my heart.

“Idon’t know where to start,” she admits.

“Howabout the women hanging?Whowas she?”Thequestion has been on my mind from the momentIfound her.Isawher hanging.Myeyes didn’t deceive me.Asad look crosses over her face before she speaks.

“Thatwas my twin sister, your aunt,Sara.Shewas a drug addict and you had never met her.Shewas never mentioned becauseIwanted to protect you from the harms of the world.”

“Theopportunity truly couldn’t have been better forJames.Ihad just discovered what he had been doing around the same time she came by asking for money, again.Shewas in debt to him so deeply, she had no choice but to pay with her life.Jamestook the opportunity to stage my death.Hehad sold me off becauseIthreatened to out him.Tomake sure that never happened, he made everyone thinkIwas dead and sold me to the highest, cruelest bidder.Therewas no getting out of it.Ihad to accept it and hope that one day,Iwould be able to see you again.”

“Itried to tell you in my note.Iwas so distraught at the time.Iknew what he was about to do.Iheard the calls.IknewJameswas a cruel man, butIdidn’t know how far he would go.Iwas frantically trying to get that letter written and hidden for you,Ididn’t even stop to think that it could have sounded like a suicide note.”

Shefinishes and looks at me, tears shining in her eyes as she reaches out to hold my hand. “Iam so sorry, sweet boy.Inever wanted to leave you.Inever meant for the pain that this world has given you.IwishIcould take it all back, erase it.IfIcould,Iwould have killedJamesfar before you could have ever known who he was.I'mso sorry, my sunshine.”

Inod asIfollow along.Itmakes sense, considering how fucking twistedJameswas.Yet, it’s hard to not be angry.ButIspent so long being angry.AtJames, at her, at myself, at the world.Idon’t want to be angry anymore.

“Iforgive you, mom.”

Hertears seem to fall faster and harder when the words leave my mouth.Shesqueezes my hand but keeps talking.

---