LARA:
I killed my own father, and I don't regret it. Not for a second. Not even knowing I'd never get a chance to truly know him. Not even realizing that this might have been the last time I'd ever see him. I killed him, and I won't lie—I savored every fucking second of it.
It's been three days since Leo Hudson took his final breath. After I ended his miserable life, Mark and Jaden took their time dragging his lifeless body out to a boat in the middle of the ocean. I stood there and watched as the sharks ripped him apart, limb by limb, his corrupted blood staining the blue waters.
Maybe that was his redemption. Maybe it wasn't. I don't care. All I know is that the man who destroyed so many lives—including mine—is gone. And the thought of it? It makes me happy.
I glance over at Amara, who's sitting with Rio, focused intently on her studies. For the first time, I notice the subtle resemblance between us. Heath and I share the same deep brown eyes, but Amara's are different. Hers are a stunning blend of jade and coffee—bright and vivid under the sun, yet soft and warm in the moonlight. Something uniquely hers. Something worth admiring. Her smile.
"So you're telling me Santa has a special gift for me?" Amara exclaims, her voice filled with childish wonder.
Rio smiles, leaning toward her. "Well, you could say that. But only if you finish this exam and promise to score the highest."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? This is so easy! But I'll be really tired if I study so hard. Can I have hot chocolate now?"
Rio laughs at her negotiation, amused by her sharp wit. She's just like Heath—brilliant, sweet, and clever. And I'm grateful every single day that she's nothing like our mother. Or... him.
"You okay?" Mark's voice breaks through my thoughts. I turn to meet his gaze, his eyes searching mine, as though trying to read what's been buried deep inside me.
He's been looking at me like this ever since I killed Leo. I know he's worried, afraid of the storm raging inside me. Maybe he wants to ask what I'm feeling, or what I plan to do next.
And maybe I'll tell him. One day.
But not today.
Not now.
I'm not ready yet.
"Yeah!" I forced a smile, but Mark didn't look away. He stayed there, his eyes holding mine, waiting—hoping I'd lower my guard, even for a moment.
I glanced back at Amara, watching her from behind the door, her laughter echoing in the room like a fragile piece of hope. Then I turned away, leaving her behind as I walked into the kitchen. "Uh... you're back early!"
Mark chuckled, his gaze briefly lingering on Amara before he followed me. "Well, I've got a beautiful fiancée at home now. I have to be early, don't I?"
The word fiancée hit me like a sharp sting. I winced inwardly, unable to shake the ache it brought. Mark was everything I'd ever wanted—a man who could understand me, care for me, and see through the broken pieces I kept hidden.
But a part of me was terrified.
Terrified of what following my heart might mean.
For as long as I could remember, I'd been taught to stand alone. Taught that love was a weakness, that the only thing that truly mattered was power and wealth. That lesson wasn't imparted by some distant figure—it was drilled into me by my own mother.
A mother who abandoned her children. Who led one to her death. Who tried to drag another into darkness. Who left the last of us to rot in abuse, even though she is just a child.
What if I became like her? What if I wasn't capable of love? What if I failed at being the person Mark thought I could be?
"You're going to be a good mother, Lara," Mark said, breaking through the storm of my thoughts. His voice was calm, steady—like an anchor in the chaos.
I looked up at him, frowning, unsure how he always seemed to read my mind. "We're going to be good parents, mia carina," he added softly.
"Mark, please—"
"No. Listen to me." He cut me off, turning me gently to face him. His hands rested on my cheeks, his touch both firm and comforting. "I know how dark the monsters inside us can be. How they can take hold and drag us down. I had one, long ago."
He paused, his eyes searching mine as if laying himself bare. "But then you came into my life, and you shone so bright that the monster had no choice but to leave. Since Leo... your father..."
"He's not my father!" I snapped, the words tumbling out like a reflex. "He's just my sperm donor."
"Okay..." Mark whispered, his voice steady as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I know you're strong, Lara. Stronger than you give yourself credit for. And it's one of the things I admire most about you. You value family, love, and the little things worth holding close. And I... I want to give all that to you."
He paused, his hands gently cradling my face, as if trying to will his belief into me. "I know there's still so much to be done. I know this might not be the best idea—to bring you into this fight with me, knowing the dangers we'll face. But I'm incapable of leaving you behind. I can't imagine facing this without you by my side."
I listened, my heart splintering with each word. I could see it—the weight he carried, the effort he poured into becoming the man he thought I deserved. And it was that thought alone, his unyielding determination, that made me want to fight for him, for us.
"I know we haven't figured everything out yet," he continued, his voice soft but resolute. "I don't know what life will look like once this war is over. But I do know one thing—whatever it brings, I want to share it with you. A family of our own. You, me, and Amara. A small, happy family."
Tears welled in my eyes, spilling over as his words hit me. "Mark..."
"Shh..." He placed a finger gently over my lips. "I know you're worried. Worried about what we'll tell Amara. Worried that in hunting monsters, we might become them ourselves. But I promise you, with everything I am, no monster will ever be strong enough to destroy our family. So please... please, trust me."
I broke down, my voice trembling. "I do... I trust you. It's me... I'm the one who—"
"I know." His voice cut through my fears, firm but tender. "I know you think that because his blood runs in your veins, you're destined to become like him. But trust me, Lara, you are nothing like your parents. And neither is Amara.
"Yes, we may have to kill your mother to end this nightmare. And I know it will fall to you to do it. But I swear to you, we'll protect Amara. We'll protect her from the darkness you and Heath endured. We will not let her suffer. So... do you still trust me?"
I nodded, biting my lip as tears rolled freely down my cheeks. "I love you," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
"And I love you more," he replied, pulling me into his arms.
I melted into his embrace, letting my tears flow as my walls came crashing down. For the first time, I let myself feel his words. I let myself believe in him, in us. Falling for Mark wasn't a mistake. Wanting to live wasn't a mistake. And fighting for love—our love—was certainly not a mistake.
He's right. Life is hard, and we don't get to choose who we're born to. But we can choose who we become.
This war isn't over, but I'll see it through. For Heath. For me. For Amara. And for everyone who has suffered at the hands of these monsters who take pleasure in others' pain.
Boston needs to be free. This world needs to be free. And while we can't change it all at once, with the Devil's hand, we'll bring justice. One step at a time.