Epilogue 1: KANE
Nine Months Pregnant
The house was too quiet.
Nina was curled on the couch, a thick knit blanket draped over her swollen belly. She had one hand resting there, thumb absently tracing little circles over the fabric of her shirt, while her other hand clutched a steaming mug of tea. Chamomile. Her favorite.
I stood in the doorway, watching her.
Nine months.
Nine months since I carried her out of hell. Since I held her trembling body and promised I’d never let anyone hurt her again. And I hadn’t. Not once.
She shifted, eyes catching mine. That soft, tired smile she gave me still hit like a punch to the chest.
“Hey,” she said, voice rough with sleep and something warmer. “You’re staring.”
“I do that sometimes,” I murmured, walking over. “Can’t help it.”
She raised an
