I winced, and Cain helped me stand up straight. I looked at Cain as the anger that had been boiling a moment ago began to twist into something much worse for her. I no longer cared at all. I was numb. I was empty. She’d abused my heart so much that it no longer beat for her.

“How good are you at framing someone?”

“Do you even need to ask?” he said and smiled. I shook my head no and gave him a little smirk.

“Kirby, please. I’m asking you not to do whatever it is you’re thinking,” my mother said, and for the first time, there was no bravado or arrogance. She was just a woman, but it was also too little too late.

I looked into my mother’s eyes. “I want you to know that whatever happens from this moment on, you caused it. Your decisions have sealed your fate,” I said, my voice as calm as if I were ordering a drink from a menu.

Linking my finger with Cain’s hand, I brought it to my lips to kiss and made sure my mother could see me. I felt his reassurance, I felt his acceptance, and I felt his love. He was part of me now as I was part of him.

“Kirby, please don’t do this,” my mother said, but I ignored her.

“Kill her, frame him, but….” I snarled, my hand clenching into a fist. “I don’t want him ever to be found.”

“I love it when you talk dirty to me,” Cain said. He wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed me until my head felt light. Opening my hand, he placed the truck keys into my palm.

“You’re not going to want to see this. Why don’t you get us coffees and muffins from Mode and meet me back here in a couple of hours?”

“But, he’s not open.”

Cain leaned in close to my ear. “It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a little extra money.” He kissed my cheek and smiled. “Jorge is excited to see you.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. The mumbling screams coming from the two captives were nothing more than background music.

“You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you,” Cain softly sang against my lips.

“Until you take my sunshine away,” I finished for him and then turned and walked out, making sure to close the door behind me.

“Kirby, please don’t do this! Kirby!” I heard my mother scream before the door clicked closed. My mother was my past, Cain was my future, and I no longer cared what happened to her, but I was going to see Dad as soon as possible. We had some catching up to do, and I wanted Dad to walk me down the aisle.

Who was I now?