Shattered

27

"Savana?" Brice knocks on her door.  When she doesn't answer he tries the door and finds it unlocked. He finds her staring out of the window looking over the grounds.

"I owe you an apology, Savana. I never meant to hurt you with my thoughtless words." Those words grabbed Savana's attention.

She shakes her head. She looks around for her iPad but can't find it. She takes a deep breath and speaks. Her voice is softer than before and Brice has a hard time hearing it, so he steps closer to her.

"You don't owe me anything, Brice. I and my brothers owe you everything. You gave us back our lives. We can't ever repay you for what you've done for us. I can't repay you for what you've done for me. You've even given me enough money that I'll never have to work again and I'll still live comfortably. You have been very generous and I've been incredibly selfish. If any one owes another an apology it would be me owing one to you.

"I was incredibly rude when I left earlier. I was being immature and stupid and I'm very sorry."

By now Brice is next to her. "No, Goldie, I owe you. I have been so lost in my anger that I couldn't see how much good I've done because of what happened to Ivy.

"I owe you another apology, I heard what you told KK earlier about my sister." At his words, Savana's eyes widen in fear and she takes a step back from him and braces herself.

Brice doesn't like the look in her eyes. He never wanted her to fear him. Now less than ever.

"You were right. I got caught up in what should have been. I got caught up in the fact that I failed my sister. I never saw the results and the good that came from her death.

"I think, if Ivy were still alive, that she would be pleased by what I'm doing in her name. I think that she might even be proud of me." Brice has to stop and turn from Savana. But he didn't turn fast enough to hide the tears that were trying to fall from his eyes.

"I haven't thought about the people I've helped. I have only thought of the one that I failed. I am a bad man, Savana. No one, especially not the FBI would argue that. But, perhaps, I'm not as bad as I thought. Perhaps to some people out there and to a few here, I am someone, not decent perhaps, but not all evil.

"I want to thank you, Savana. You have helped me to see that my sister's death wasn't in vain. That perhaps it was a tragedy, but it has done a lot of good. After hearing you tell KK that I wouldn't forgive you for your thoughts I went downstairs and to the room off the study and thought, a lot. There have been over five hundred girls and occasional men that have been freed from slavery since my sister died and I partnered with the feds. There have been nine known auctioneers and their bully boys that have been put out of commission. There have been many suppliers that I personally have taken down and even more that the feds have removed.

"They seem to pop up as fast as I can remove them, but I am doing my part by keeping the damn slavers from culling in my territory and taking them out when they infringe. I've taken on and out several mafias which in turn have increased my territory taking down the ease of those culling.

"I wish I had been strong enough to take down my father before Ivy's death. That will never change, but now I see that I would have become him had I done so.

"You are right, I wouldn't have stopped the practice. That would mean the other mafias wouldn't have slowed down either. Hell, I would likely not be feared like I am now.

"I guess I owe my little sister my reputation as well." Brice carefully walks to Savana and opens his arms. "I owe you for helping me to see the good in the bad. Thank you, Savana. Already some of the anger that I have held inside of me is cooling. Perhaps not all of it, but I no longer have to fight myself to control it.