Page 139 of Fury
“The next thing I know, Elsa invited me home with her,” Slash said. “I spent the night and slept so good, the best sleep since before my parents’ deaths. Elsa was an angel.” Unable to stop herself, Slash started sobbing.
Gut-wrenching cries exploded from the depths of her soul. Carrera pulled her into his arms while she released all the pain, all the fear, all the anguish long buried from years ago.
When she finally got herself together, she blew her nose, wiped her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
She finished the brandy. “Two weeks into living with Elsa, I learned that her daughter-in-law—your mom—had been murdered. That’s when I realized who Elsa was. I knew I’d have to leave because she’d kick me out when she found out.”
“What happened?”
“I told her who I was and that I didn’t want to go back into foster care because of what had happened at that last home. Elsa was amazing. I told her how I’d begged my dad to watch a travel game. She said that what had happenedwasn’tmy fault. She explained that the problem wasn’t with me, it was with the adults. Had my dad and her daughter-in-law never cheated, everyone would still be alive. She acknowledged that what my mom did was horrific, but that also had nothing to do with me.” Pausing, Slash wiped her newly-spilled tears. “Then, she told me she had a dream that a girl with bright blonde hair would come into her life, someone who needed her help. She said it was a nice dream, but she never thought about it again. When she saw me that morning in church, she knew. She confided that she loved her sons, but she’d always wished for a daughter.” Slash cracked a smile. “I think I became her project. We decided I needed a fresh start. She told me she’d always wanted a daughter named Amanda May. We came up with Amanda Maynard. I don’t know how, but she got me a new social security number. Then, she took me for a new driver’s license. After that, she enrolled me in high school. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.”
She raked her trembling hands through her hair. “God, I never talk this much.”
“You got this,” he said. “You’re doing great.”
“You met me after your dad hit rock bottom,” Slash said. “Your sisters went to Texas, right?”
“They went to live with an aunt and uncle, but I wanted to stay with G-ma.”
“Things were so perfect between us,” she said, “until the day you learned I was Melody Donaldson.”
He clasped her hands, peered into her eyes. “I’m sorry for what you went through. I’m ashamed at how I treated you, how my family treated you when they found out. I wouldn’t trust me either.”
“Finding those women is important to me because that could have been me,” Slash said. “If Elsa hadn’t come into my life, it would have turned out very differently. My friend Jilly saved me from being raped, so paying for her college courses was nothing. That monster is someone I dream about killing.” She shook her head. “How sick am I?”
“Why don’t you?” he asked.
“Kill him?”
“Yeah, why don’t you?”
“Once I was safe with Elsa, I reported him. I found out he left the area, and I could never find him.”
“What’s his name?”
“He went by Elwood Tosh, but that could have been an alias.” She rose from the sofa and winced.
“You okay?”
“I pulled something during my less-than-impressive rope climb.”
“You’re a beast,” he said. “You climbed halfway up with your sack, then all the way without it. Do you know how hard that is?”
“My brain doesn’t, but my body does.” She checked the time. “Whoa, it’s almost three. Thank you for the cases. I’ll keep you posted.” She started walking toward the door.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“To walk you out.”
“I’m not leaving,” he replied.
She stopped, turned. “You can’t just stay here whenever you feel like it.”
“I’m going to rub your sore muscles, then I’m going to watch you sleep.”
She snickered. “Good one.”
