Chapter 298 - Eden

Stunned silence was thick enough I could hardly breathe. It felt like a herd of buffalo were sitting on my chest, squeezing my heart and lungs into stillness.

Under the heavy weight, I could feel the barest sigh of relief. It was peppered through the room, coming from different people. But it was there. And it was slowly growing.

Willow came over, wrapped me in her arms. "I'm so sorry, babe."

I cuddled her back. For every tear that fell on my shoulder, I put another tally mark in the sins list of Rafe's life. He had a lot to answer for. The least of which was hurting these people.

Soon, the entire Amatucci family surrounded me. There was no ill will. No recriminations. My kill had been clean in their eyes. They grieved for the man they loved as their son. The man he should have been. The man he could have been.