“Hello, Dane.” The voice was hers, but Addie knew that it wasn’t her speaking. The woman…child really…was speaking to Dane through her. “I’ve been looking for you. Did you know that Mother and I have been left behind because of you?”
“Who the hell are you?” The voice laughed, bitter and cold, and Dane took a step back. “No. No, that ain’t right. You’re not supposed to be able to break free of that shit. You’re dead ‘cause you killed yourself.”
“No. I’m dead because you left me no choice. There was no one left for me to turn to. You told me that my brother was dead.” Addie and the child walked toward Dane. “You lied to me, Dane. Just like you always did, but this time you did it as a ghost, and that just doesn’t work the same way.”
Dane backed up and Ana—she knew who she was now—looked at Nick. Tears in her eyes, she reached for her brother using Addie, and the moment they touched, she could feel everything Ana had as a child when she’d been told her brother had died. When she turned to Dane again, the power that came from her shot out and touched the other men behind him before hitting Dane. They were all gone in seconds. Ana turned her to Nick.
“I’m sorry.” Addie touched her fingers to Nick’s cheek just as Ana wanted. “Mother and I are at peace now. You will be happy and free of him. He is gone.”
“I’m sorry, Ana. Don’t go.” She turned and Addie could see the shadow of the woman just beyond them. “Mom?”
“We have to go.” Ana turned to him. “The woman, kill her. If you don’t, then she will live to haunt others.”
“I will.” Nick reached for her again. “I’ve missed you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t have any idea where to find you.”
“It’s good, Nicky. We had a job to do and now that it’s done, we’re going to be just fine. And so are you.” Addie felt the warmth from the child as she left her body. When she turned to her, Addie could see her just as clearly as if she were standing right in front of her. “You will help him, yes?”
“I love him.” Nodding, Ana smiled at her. “I wish I could have known you. Both of you. I’m sorry for what happened to you all.”
“You will know us. Through him.” Turning again to Nick, Ana told him again to kill the woman. “Do not let her go to prison again. She will survive.”
“We’ll take care of her.”
When Ana faded away, Addie looked at Ellen. She was having a heated argument with Steele, and Addie knew that Ana was right. If she lived, she’d get out and kill again. It had to stop now.
The officer that came into the house looked confused. Addie had no idea what he was talking about as he mumbled about head pain and a woman. But as soon as he was within touching distance of Ellen, she grabbed him around the chest and pulled him to her. The knife was at his throat before anyone could move. Addie moved to help him, but only managed to fall against him. She was kicked back before she could stand again.
“This is how this is going to work. You four are going to get out of my house and leave me alone. And if you do what I say, then I’ll let this guy go.” Her laughter made Addie think that Ellen had no such intentions of letting anyone go, not even them. “And those cops out there, they’re going to leave too. I’ve got work to do.”
“You’re insane.” Addie felt her face heat when she realized what she’d said. But Ellen nodded at her and smiled. “That’s the plan, isn’t it? You’re going to tell them that you’re insane and get sent back to prison.”
“It wasn’t prison. It was a home.” Ellen licked the officer’s face, and Addie looked at him. He had no idea what was going on, but Addie did. As she stood up, she felt it in her hand before she could think what it was, much less how it had gotten there. Lifting the gun up, Addie pointed it at Ellen and watched her face.
“Let him go.” Ellen laughed again, manically and full of insanity. “I said to let him go and I won’t kill you.”
“You won’t kill me anyway. You’re just too sweet for that.” Ellen spit at her. “Fuck you and your sweetness. I’m going to enjoy cutting him to shit. Then I’m coming for you. When I get you, you’re going to scream like you’ve never screamed before. See that—”
The gun seemed to just fire itself. Addie held it up even as Ellen’s head snapped back. The officer that had been in her arms fell to the floor and held his neck. Addie watched as Ellen stared at her, not a drop of blood coming from the neat hole that was right between her eyes. As she dropped to her knees, then to the floor, Steele was taking the gun from her, and Addie just stared at him when he said her name again.
“Let me have it, Addie.” Nodding, she stared at the gun. “Addie, you have to let go, honey. If you won’t give it to me, then give it to Nick.”
“I can’t.” Nick was suddenly in front of her. “My fingers won’t loosen up. Help me. I want to let go, but I can’t.”