I held Lilly-Rae close, feeling her tiny heartbeat, each beat a reminder of the miracle I'd soon bring into this world. But as I sat there, a haunting memory returned, unwelcome, twisting through my mind like a dark thread that refused to be unraveled. The cold whisper that had echoed in my ear that day—"surprise"—the sensation of that ruthless shove...it all felt too familiar. My heart began to pound as I dredged up memories I'd tried so hard to bury.
It wasn't just the voice, it was the chill in it, the way each syllable cut through the air. It was the same kind of chill I had felt once before, on a dark night when I had heard that voice on a recording—only this time, the stakes were even higher.
I forced myself to breathe, but with each inhale, more memories came flooding back: the last time I'd seen my brother. I could picture his grin, the unshakeable confidence in his eyes as he'd promised he'd be back soon. We'd talked the day he'd left, him teasing me, as always, that I worried too much. But then...then he was gone. And just like that, I was left with only a hollow silence, his memory haunting every corner of my life. I had tried to track down his killer, pouring every ounce of my energy into the search, but the trail always went cold. Whoever had taken him from me was clever, slipping away each time I got close.
But now...now he had tried to kill me too. My blood ran cold as I realized he was still out there, still watching, still plotting. And he'd come close to succeeding. The memory of his whisper sent another shiver through me, but this time, something new stirred within that terror—a fierce, unyielding rage. He'd taken my brother from me, and now he wanted to take me, to leave Lilly-Rae without a mother, Carlos without the woman he loved.
I hadn't even realized that I was shaking until I felt Carlos's hand on my shoulder. His presence was like an anchor, grounding me, but his concern was clear. "Lilith?" he asked, his voice pulling me back from the spiral. "What's wrong?"
I hesitated, my mouth dry, as I struggled to find the words. How could I explain it all—the fear, the fury, the raw memory of my brother's death tangled with the fresh wound of my own near-murder? But Carlos's eyes were steady, filled with that same fierce protectiveness that had saved me more times than I could count.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to speak. "It wasn't an accident, Carlos," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Someone pushed me...someone I know." My voice broke, but I continued, feeling the weight of my words settle heavily between us. "It was the same voice. The one that killed my brother."
Carlos's face shifted from shock to a hardened expression, his jaw clenched. He looked as if he wanted to speak, but instead he waited, letting me continue. "I tried so hard to forget it, to put it behind me," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. "But that day...that voice...it was him. The same one who left that taunting message after my brother's death."
I didn't need to explain the message. Carlos knew. He'd seen the pain it had caused me, the empty words that had echoed in my head for months, taunting me with the killer's cold satisfaction. "He was always one step ahead, Carlos. No matter what I did, I couldn't catch him. And now he's come for me. He doesn't know I survived, but... he'll find out."
Carlos's expression was unreadable, but I could feel his anger simmering just beneath the surface, like a storm waiting to break. "Lilith," he said, his voice low and fierce, "if this man is after you, he'll regret the day he ever set his sights on you." He took a breath, his hand tightening on my shoulder. "You don't have to face this alone."
His words were a balm, steadying the chaos inside me, but I could still feel the dark swirl of fear mingling with the urge for revenge. "Carlos, I can't lose anyone else," I whispered, my throat thick with emotion. "My brother was everything to me, and when he was taken from me, I...I didn't know if I could keep going. Now, with you and Lilly-Rae...I can't bear the thought of him coming after you, of him taking you both from me."
Carlos's face softened, his eyes warm as he pulled me close. "Lilith," he murmured, his voice a promise, "he won't get near us. Not while I'm here." His arms wrapped around me, his presence grounding me once more, and for a moment, the anger and fear dulled, replaced by his unbreakable strength. But as comforting as his words were, the fear lingered like a shadow. I couldn't let my guard down, not for a second, not while this threat loomed over us.
Carlos brushed a hand along my cheek, wiping away a tear I hadn't realized had fallen. "You're not alone in this, Lilith. We'll end this together." His voice was low, steady, a promise as fierce as any I'd heard from him. I knew he meant every word, that he would do whatever it took to protect me, to protect our family.
But as I closed my eyes, leaning into him, I knew that this wasn't just his fight. My brother's memory hung heavy over me, and I could feel the weight of his silent promise pressing down on my chest. I couldn't let his death be in vain. Whoever had taken him from me had left a wound that had never truly healed, a void that no amount of revenge could fill. But I could stop this monster from hurting anyone else, from taking any more lives.
As Carlos held me close, his heartbeat steady against my cheek, I felt a new determination settle within me. My brother might be gone, but his memory lived on in me, in the strength he had given me, the courage he'd inspired. I wouldn't let his killer win. Not again.
Carlos pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, his voice a low murmur. "We'll get through this," he promised, his hand resting over mine. "I swear to you, Lilith, he won't lay another hand on you or our daughter."
In that moment, as I held on to Carlos, I let the walls I'd built around my heart finally fall, letting myself lean on him, trusting him to keep me safe, to stand by me in the battles to come. And I vowed silently to myself, to the brother I'd lost, and to the family I still had, that I wouldn't rest until his killer was brought to justice.
Whoever had haunted me for so long, whoever had ripped my family apart and now threatened to tear my world down again, would pay. And this time, I wouldn't stop until he was found and taken down.
For my brother. For Carlos. For Lilly-Rae.
I would end this.
