He grinned at her inanely, and she knew that the vast amount of drugs she’d plied him with in his whisky had taken effect. Although his words did make her falter momentarily. Nathan had had such a traumatic and abusive childhood; there was no way that couldn’t have affected him. He was never taught what love was, and so how could he have ever known how to love anyone. But then, she thought about Jake and as much as she felt pity for Nathan, maybe still loved him in some twisted way, she loved Jake infinitely more, and she knew he could never be free while his father was alive.

She mentally chastised herself for allowing him to get into her head. To make her feel empathy for him, when he had ruined her life, had almost killed Patrick, and now threatened to ruin their son’s life, too. Her resolve returned. She was strong, and capable. She’d gone back and forth so many times about what was about to happen. Everything had been in place for weeks but every time she went to take that final step, she lost her nerve. Because it wasn’t just him she would be getting rid of, it was a part of her too. What would her life be without him in it? He seemed to have defined it for so long, she had no idea who she was without him. Then there was her pub. Her sanctuary. Her home. It broke her heart to think about what was about to become of it and it had taken her time to come to terms with what she was about to do.

But she’d visited her parents’ grave that morning. She’d told them her plan and had made peace with the fact she was about to destroy their legacy. She knew that if they were still alive, they would understand that it was the only way she could be free. She had lived with a monster for over half of her life, and now she was ready to defeat him for good.

‘You’re right, Nathan,’ she smiled. ‘Everything is about to change.’

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Nathan smiled at Grace, his head lolling to one side slightly. She wondered how much of what she was about to say he would to be able to take in. She hoped he would hear every single word.

‘After tonight, Nathan, you’re never going to hurt me again. This is the end for you. You’ll notice by now that you can’t move. That’s because I’ve given you some ketamine – well quite a lot actually. Enough to floor a rhino.’

His eyes narrowed as he stared at her and she was grateful he still understood what she was saying.

‘What the fuck?’ he slurred.