“I know that I’ve been labeled a monster. I do not think that’s true. I think… I think I am a sick man. But I know that is no excuse. I accept my punishment and promise that after today you won’t hear from me again. I will disappear into oblivion, but I hope that my victims can find peace and happiness from here on out.”
Pleased with himself, Rick sat down. He wanted applause and adulation but the silence was pretty satisfying. Lily stared straight ahead, never once meeting his gaze. Her sister, on the other hand, was boring holes into him. Rick hated to admit it but she was actually kind of hot now in her tight black sweater that perfectly hugged her curves. Maybe he had made the wrong choice. Maybe. He looked back up at the judge, wanting all of this to be over. In just a few short hours, Rick would be speeding down the interstate, while all these idiots wrung their hands in disbelief. All Rick had to do was get through the rest of this ridiculous dog and pony show and he was home free.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ABBY
Abby wanted to laugh. How pathetic was that? Rick hadn’t even tried. She’d heard him keep a room full of bored teenagers engaged for fifty minutes and that was the best he could do? He really was a pathetic piece of shit.
Abby listened as the judge read the sentencing, which included words and phrases such as “depravity” and “monstrous acts,” “vicious disregard for human life” and “a lack of empathy that made him a danger to anyone who came into contact with him.” Then the judge reached the part Abby had been waiting for.
“The defendant will spend the rest of his natural born life behind bars without possibility of parole.”
A cheer went up in the courtroom.
Judge Crabtree banged her gavel. It was all over. For a brief moment, Abby felt like her job was done. She stood up, celebrating with Mom and the attorneys, all of them hugging and congratulating one another. Everyone but Lily. Her sister stood motionless, staring over at Mr. Hanson. Abby went to take Lily’s hand, but Lily unexpectedly broke free, making her way over to him. Startled, Abby quickly followed. A guard stepped forward to block Lily’s path from Mr. Hanson. Lily gently raised her hand.
“Please, I need one second,” Lily said, pleading with him.
The guard sized Lily up, deciding almost instantly that she wasn’t a threat. Abby watched as the guard stepped back and Lily moved forward. Rick gazed tenderly at Lily, as if he’d known she would come to him.
“I need you to know I forgive you, Rick. I forgive you for everything,” Lily said, her voice never wavering.
He smiled that smug fucking smile, and Abby could feel the darkness welling up inside of her, the darkness she’d worked so hard to erase.
No. No. No. Why would Lily say that? He didn’t deserve forgiveness. In a lifetime of eternities, there could be no forgiveness for what he had done. Mr. Hanson’s smile seemed to overwhelm his face.
“I forgive you too, Baby Doll. I’ll miss you, and I’ll always love you. Take care of our girl.”
Lily didn’t say a word. She simply turned away. But as she did, Abby saw a look flash across Lily’s face. Abby stared at her sister’s retreating back. That look… dear God. Lily had said that she didn’t care about Rick, that he didn’t matter to her. But that wasn’t true. Abby had never considered the possibility; she almost couldn’t bear to consider it. Could Lily really love Rick Hanson? Could she really love the man who’d done all those hideous things to her? But it wasn’t real love. It couldn’t be. It was ugly, broken, distorted, twisted love, the only kind of love Rick Hanson knew. But Lily was bound to him, even now. And as long as he was alive, Lily would always be bound to him.
Lily had reached the back of the courtroom, a good, safe distance away. Abby stepped toward Mr. Hanson, clutching the small ceramic blade she’d put in her pocket before leaving that morning. It had always been part of the plan, her gift to Lily. Abby just hadn’t been sure she’d be brave enough to use it. But that look, that fucking look on Lily’s face, convinced Abby that this was the only option.
She raised the blade and plunged it into Mr. Hanson’s chest. Blood spurted out, and he tried to stagger back, but the cuffs made it impossible. The deputy reached out to grab Abby but she was unstoppable, driven by adrenaline and rage, driven to destroy this man who’d taken so much from her.