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..::.. Chapter 28 - Closure ..::..

Present...

I haven't seen Jasper in months. The moment his eyes find mine, I tremble a little. Is it intimidation or rage? I'm not quite sure. All I know is I look away when really, all I wanted to do was stare until he felt the fire I feel inside. I see him, and I think of Mom.

It's instant.

I hate him.

His lip quirks and he takes me in from head to toe. Those same eyes that took in my mother. Those large hands holding onto a fedora; they held and touched my mother's young skin. A glance at his lips, and to think, that mouth captured Mom's until she gave in.

The narrow space toward an entrance is dark. I don't know where we are. The car stopped, we got out, and there's a tunnel aiming straight toward metal doors. A rusting lock unraveled on handles in the same condition.

Edward's back towers over me as he nods at his uncle in greeting. Then the narrow hallway fills. We have a brief moment of silence and pause before everyone moves through the door.

Jasper stares.

I square my shoulders, lift my chin and turn to him to stare right back. I'm here to slither my way into this family, not cower.

He chuckles with the new intensity I call to mind.

"It's a pleasure to see you again; you've been missed."

"I wish I could say the same," I respond.

His smile fades slowly. He seems to grasp the bases of the sentiment. The crease between his brows deepens, and he looks away. All the throat clearing in the world will never clear away the tense realization. The past catches up to this exchange between us.

And if I could, I'd fuck him up right here, this very second. I'd be elbow deep. Anger bites so hard at my insides that when we finally make it through the rusting doors, I know this training day has already surpassed any of my expectations.

My heart rages the moment Riley smiles up at me from where he sits. Even tied and looking like death has come to drag him away, he's himself; Malicious, inappropriate, and stupid.

He lets out a laugh of disbelief the second he lays eyes on me. My hand twined in Edward's still.

I let go.

Edward leans into me. "I have to warn you. This might be a little … uncomfortable."

His warning late and smug, but I wanted to see more of the job. So, here it is.

I'm frozen.

"What a surprise. My girl has come to rescue me."

Edward gets closer to shadow over my past nightmare incarnate.

"What is this?" I ask. Edward looks at me.

"Your gore and blood," he says, now standing behind Riley.

I don't understand.

Edward takes in a breath. Tedious. He explains. "Our little encounter at home, remember? If I'm not mistaken, I think you killed two of the many intruders he sent my way."

Riley is angry. Sweat smears his face along with dirt. His dress shirt is streaked with blood around his chest. His nose the culprit; red, dried blood around his nostrils. He breathes, and a faint whistling is proof that they weren't easy on him. It was a struggle to get him here.

"You have no fucking proof!" he shouts.

Edward pauses to think for a moment, ignoring him. "I never thanked you, have I?" he asks me. He makes a circle and finds my side. His kiss is slow and soundly against my lips.

"My girl came to rescue me," he says close. I stand perplexed, furrowed brows. I shove him away when he smiles.

Riley stares from under his lashes. His smirk comes slowly, but surely. "She always came for me, too," he says.

I see it, so clearly in my mind, like a flash. I picture myself beating his nose in and finishing him. My shoe off my foot in a second, the heel digging in with a hard bang, then again and again. Bones crack, skin splits, blood flows like new over his piece of shit face.

I blink and find myself on the table in front of him. I'm panting, and I realize I wasn't dreaming.

I'm pulled back. My heel slips from my hand. Riley cries out where he sits. Fresh blood drips over his mouth, down to his chest.

"Fucking bitch!" he shouts.

Jasper lifts the shoe off the floor and offers it, like a truce. I look around. The wide eyes stare back; Edward's are beaming with pride, coupled with perfect pearly whites.

I yank my shoe from Jasper's grasp.

"If this were up to me, I'd kill him. Abusive motherfuckers shouldn't be given a second chance." I spit, this deep-rooted emotion coming through, bringing all the memories with it.

Edward's expression falters where he leans by a wall. His darkened eyes cut to Riley.

I walk out with new strengths and this satisfying closure of epic proportions.

…