A Hurt So Sweet Volume Four - Isabella Starling Page 0,54

Oakes," I address her directly. "It's all on your shoulders."

Pandora's stepmother turns her blank stare to me, making me grit my teeth even harder. My jaw sets painfully, but I'm not giving up. Not before my toy gets exactly what she wants.

"Do you want your children growing up like this?" I ask her. "And baby Reign. When he's returned to his home... is this the world you want him to grow up in?"

The woman swallows thickly. She's going to look at Emilian any second now, and then it will all be over.

I approach her, stepping off the stage and coming to kneel before her.

"You could be the last vote," I tell her. "The last chance to make things right. I know you've made mistakes - we all have. But now is the time to change Eden Falls. Now. Not tomorrow, not next year. You could be the change you want to see in the world. Do it, Bryony. Be the better person."

She stands up on shaky legs. Judging by Emilian's furious expression, he's ready to fucking off the woman. I keep my gaze fixed on hers, offering her my hand.

"Come with me. Stand up for your children, for yourself."

She takes my arm and I lead her to the podium. We're not there yet. She needs to say the words for them to count.

"Get your hands off my wife, Booth." Emilian stands up, eyes filled with rage as they meet mine. "Who the fuck do you think you are, kid?"

"Your son-in-law," I remind him. "And one of the only ones who can change Reign's life for the better."

Emilian laughs out loud. "By abolishing the system, you're hurting the kid, too. He'll be nothing until he's eighteen. A mommy's boy. Everyone will laugh at him."

Pandora steps forward and I have to stop her physically before she launches herself at her trainwreck of a father.

"You're such a pathetic excuse for a man," I tell Emilian coolly.

"You're one to talk," he snarls back. "Pussy-whipped, that's what you are, Dexter. An idealist who needs knocking down. I've seen my fair share of people like you. They all take a tumble in the end. This town wasn't made for dreamers. This town was made for men with money."

I grit my teeth. "You mean for abusers. Bullies. Monsters."

He laughs. "You say that like you're not one of them, Booth. That's what we all are. Men."

It's my turn to laugh now, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"A real man, Emilian, knows the difference between consent and control," I spit out. "And only a weak man takes control when no consent is given." I grab Pandora’s waist and pull her against me. "A real man cherishes control. Makes his toy's life better with it. A real man looks out for the people he cares about. He doesn't hurt them. And he isn't afraid to admit he loves... loves as deeply as you'll never allow yourself."

"Stupid, insolent boy," Emilian spits out. "I'll be delighted to watch you go down in flames, just like your parents. You deserve to burn, just like they did."

My hands form fists, but before I can attack the piece of shit, Bryony tears her hand out of mine. For a moment, I'm convinced it's over. We've lost the battle and the war.

But then Bryony steps in front of the microphone and speaks directly into it.

"Pandora Oakes has my vote."

I can't believe she's done this. Silence lays on the crowd as we all come to terms with what Bryony has just done. I believed in my toy, but I didn't believe in the others. I wasn't sure she'd get the votes she needed. But as I look at her now, I see her in a new light. She's done it. She's won the war.

"Oh my god," Pandora breathes as the guys all embrace her.

I step toward her. Bryony is left shaking on the stage, barely able to hold her husband's gaze. The guys part, allowing me access to Pandora, and she runs into my arms. I embrace her, holding her tight.

"We did it," I whisper in her ear. "You did it. You changed this cursed town, Pandora."

She's beaming so wide it must hurt, and even though there's a hint of sadness to her smile, I know she's ecstatic.

Maybe now, we'll finally be able to move on.

Maybe now, I can tell her the truth.

The truth being that the hope of finding Reign and Lily Anna is nearly gone. That all the PIs, the police, the men Emilian