Chapter 8 - The Aftermath
The silence that followed was heavy, but it was a clean silence. The poison had been purged.
I went to the safe room and unlocked the door. Bria ran into my arms immediately. I held her tight, feeling the rhythm of her heart. Nora stood in the doorway, looking exhausted but relieved.
"Is it over?" she whispered.
May you like
"The war is over," I said, turning to look at her. "Now, we have to start living."
The next few weeks were a blur of lawyers, police reports, and rebuilding. I stepped back from the day-to-day operations of the 'business.' I appointed Owen to handle the transition, and I sold off the more dangerous assets. I wanted a life that was quiet, a life where my daughter could draw pictures of her family without worrying about who was listening in the dark.
