Victoria Pierce

"Yes, I'll take you to see him in the morning if that's what you wish. I'll start planing for his funeral arrangements, it'll be private of course."

I nodded a little and tried to wipe the tears away but they just kept coming. "Can you... take me... to see him now? Please?" I whispered.

"Yes, I'll take you now. I'll call and let them know we're coming." I told her and put my arms around her as she cried "He was sorry, he told me that at the prison."

"Sorry for what?" I choked out against her. "What did he say he was sorry for?"

"He was sorry for...everything. Everything he dad and became, he was sorry for all of it."

"That has to count for something... right?"

"Yes, I believe it does. Before he escaped prison I went to see him one evening, he was surprisingly kind to me. He left everything to you, except his funds. But I already put them in an account just for you."

"What about you? You didn't have to do that."

"I'll be fine, we just always wanted what was best for you."

I nodded. "I know. Let's go," I said quietly and stood up.

"Alright, let me have the car brought around, I'm... just not up for driving right now."

I nodded. "I understand. I'm not either." We went downstairs and she went to talk to the men in the other room then came out to wait with me. "So who are those guys? That one was hurt really badly."

"They were in a scuffle, the one is Asher Jacobs so they couldn't really go into a hospital." I told her as the car was brought around and we were assisted inside of it.

I nodded slowly. "That looked like... way more than a scuffle, but I'll take your word for it," I said and got in the car with her.

I couldn't lie to her, it wouldn't be fair. I hated to tell her the ugly truth but I knew my daughter and she would be upset if she heard it from anyone else "Alright. It was...way more than a scuffle. The young man on the bed, that was Quin Bast. Jasper and Cade had been holding him at the cabin and they...tortured him."

I closed my eyes, swallowing hard, trying to hold back my emotion. "Why... why would they do that?" I whispered.

"I'm guessing Quin followed them and was caught."

"But still... how could they... he was mutilated... How could they do that to him?" I whispered, fighting tears.

"I wish I had an answer for that sweetie, I really do." I told her as we pulled up to the morgue. I took a deep breath when our door was opened and we stepped from the vehicle. Just hours ago I was holding him in my arms...

I started to walk towards the building then stopped. "No. I can't... I can't do this," I said and got back in the car. "Take me back. Just take me back home. Please," I said and buried my face in my hands.

My heart broke, I knew this wouldn't be easy for her. I got back into the car with her and patted her back "Honey are you sure? Whatever you want we'll do it."

"I can't... I can't... see him like that," I whispered out, tears threatening again. "Please take me home."

I nodded "Alright." I said and told them to take us back home. It didn't take very long and when we pulled in Caitlin ran into the house and to her room. I wiped the tears away and went inside, heading to my study. I pulled out the papers Jasper had given me at the prison and started looking over them again when I found an unopened envelope with my name written on the front. It was his hand writing, I'd know it anywhere and I opened it up.

My hands were shaking as I tucked the letter back into it's envelope. I managed to stand and made it to my safe where I locked it away. God, I had loved that man with everything I had. Leaving that prison knowing that was the last time I would ever see him alive again had left me stricken with grief. Then news announced his escape and even though I knew where he was hiding I just couldn't bring myself to go after him. Putting him in prison to face a death sentence had nearly killed her anyway. Everyone would be thrilled by the news of him and Cade, and she didn't blame them. Jasper had done terrible, unspeakable things to innocent women. But they could never understand how she felt and she didn't expect them too. Ever. It felt like the floor was swallowing her but in reality she had collapsed, sobbing into her hands and just screaming. From the hurt, pain, and anger....just all of it.