Page 37 of Honey Trapped

Epilogue

Norah

“Be gentle,” I hear Ace whisper.

“Mommy sweepin,” I hear the sweetest sound, the voice of my girl whispering nearby.

I rub at my eyes and struggle to sit up more.

“Hey,” I croak and try not to laugh when I see Lennon’s crooked pigtails and mismatched clothes as Ace balances her on his hip and a vase of flowers with balloons tied to them in his big hand.

“Wet me down.” Lennon wiggles trying to slide down his side.

“Easy wiggle worm. Let me get rid of these flowers first.”

“We got you pwesent,” Lennon tells me then lays her head on Ace’s shoulder. “Boons.”

“Thank you, baby.”

Ace puts the flowers on the cart sitting under the Tv mounted to the wall. I only have minor scrapes, bruises, a broken rib, and a nasty concussion. I know I’m lucky to be alive.

Marco not so much. I thought I was as good as dead. I drifted in and out of consciousness as he dragged my body away from the wreckage. Marco left me no choice. When I saw Ace there and the two of them fighting. I saw an opportunity, and I took it. I grabbed Marco’s gun from his waistband, and I shot him while praying I didn’t hit Ace.

I killed Marco and I’m not sorry.

There was no saving him.

No redemption to be had.

He was a monster, and he would have killed me the moment he got his hands on our daughter.

As for Eileen she’s in the bed next to me. That for me is unfortunate but at least my nurse keeps my curtain pulled to divide the room. The hospital is small and there wasn't anywhere else to put her. She’s expected to make a full recovery. I’m not surewho will be happier to see her released me or the nursing staff. She’s milking this for all she can. Giving interviews with the local news about her encounter with a mad man. I’ve declined to be interviewed other than my statements to the police about Marco’s threats and him abducting me.

Once we were driving down the main road, I knew there was no way in hell I’d let Marco take Lennon. It’d be over my dead body. I did what any mother would do. I jerked the wheel and Marco lost control. If Ace hadn't come along when he did who knows if I’d be alive right now.

He pulls up a chair and settles next to my bed struggling to get Lennon to sit on his knees. She wants to get up in the bed and snuggle me. “Listen, bud. What’d we talk about on the way here?”

She grins at him. “I get ice cream.”

“You get ice cream if you’re careful around Mommy and listen to Ace, yeah?”

“O’tay.”

“Did you remember to feed Hammie this morning?”

“Thought you said he doesn’t bite.”

“I said it doesn't hurt. You probably scared him.”

“Pain in my ass,” he mutters.

“Ace, is that you?” Eileen calls from her side of the room and I roll my eyes.

“Go on. We both know she won't shut up until you see what she wants.”

He curses under his breath as he shifts Lennon from his lap. She touches my hand with her fingers being careful of my IV.

“You K, Mommy? You K?”

---