"You cared for her. Any outsider could see that."

He nods, but his eyes are distant. He moves his gaze to the street. "I did everything and anything I could to gain Viktor's trust. Even going so far as doin' his dirty work with the thugs who came to those girls thinkin' they were for sale."

My eyes narrow as my thought processes. "Thinking? That's what they were for."

"Sure, but each girl sold over the last six months is safe. With me being there, and Viktor being an idiot, each time a girl was sold, we were waitin' to nab both the buyer and who he'd plan on takin'."

"s.h.i.+t." I hadn't thought of that. "So, you have a few of these men..."

"Can't talk about it, Max."

"Got it," I answer in understanding. "Where's Viktor?" I ask next. "You got him?"

His face goes dim. All jokes and smiles aside, he answers, "No. He's gone. We've got his girls, though, and we've got Anna. I don't expect he's gonna sit in his hole for long before he surfaces and tries to find her."

"No, probably not," I voice my concern.

"Sean Miles is tracking him now. Last I heard, he fled back to Russia."

"Sean?"

"Charlie to you," he states, as if talking about the weather.

"Charlie?" I ask. "As in Charlie Charlie? Charlie Benaim?"

"Yes. He got there way before I did. I was there for Casey, nothing more. When Hoss dodged all Em's complaints and the local PD had washed their hands and given it to us, I went in. At first, I wasn't even privy to Charlie's role, but I knew he was someone. He's after Viktor. Has been for a f.u.c.k of a long time. Almost had him, but Casey came into play."

"Motherf.u.c.k, I had no idea."

"That's his job," he replies.

"How's Anna? She safe?"

Nodding again, he replies, "Yeah. She'll be safe as long as she does what we tell her. Creed's done. Those men are either scattered or facing long sentencing thanks to her and Viktor's other women."

"Get them all out?"

"We think so, but there's more still at play in other places we don't know about yet. If anyone will get 'em, though, it'll be Sean."

After sitting in stilted silence together for a moment, Cilas breaks it first. "It was hard as f.u.c.k not to tell you who I was when you were there. I knew what you were up to," he tells me. "We had a lock on your friend Aimes from the get-go. He's a good guy, but f.u.c.k if he doesn't have an exasperating urgency and temper to go with it. We tried to make contact with him and we actually did at one time, but he didn't fall for our bait and told the decoy to f.u.c.k off."

"That sounds about right." I smile.

"I didn't want to leave Creed when I did, but your friend didn't give me a choice. It was important he didn't blow this s.h.i.+t wider than he was already planning."

"Aimes doesn't do anything half-a.s.s."

Cilas turns to look at me again. "Figured that out when he made his calls to every person he thought owed him a favor. It was painfully obvious Aimes has friends in many places some he probably has no clue are law enforcement of varying kinds. He's so f.u.c.kin' c.o.c.ky. When word hit us that he was going in as Dextor Ahrens, we worked fast trying to clear the name so Viktor wouldn't catch on. Jesus Christ, it was close."

He's pegged my friend to his exact likeness. Aimes is c.o.c.ky and he does have a f.u.c.k of a lot of friends, and in many places. In his line of work, it's understandable. "I'll tell him you said thanks."

Cilas gives me a look much like the one I remember him using at Creed. "Yeah, do that. You can thank him for being a distraction. Once his men were set, the Feds were more than ready and in place when he finally started storming in."

"It's how he works. Always goin' in blazin'."

"How's Casey?" he asks, turning around and facing me.

"She's really good. She misses you," I tell him and watch him sit back in his chair. His look is one I can't place. Confusion, maybe. "She's gettin' the help she needs to deal with everything she went through. I can tell you, you're part of that process."

When he speaks, I realize it's a look of utter defeat. "Maybe it's best to let her keep thinking I'm a monster."

"She doesn't think that. Not sure she ever did. She cared for you, believe it or not. You and Anna both."

"I did everything I could to keep her safe," he admits, sounding as if it wasn't enough. "And I'll do everything I can to keep Anna safe, as well."

The way Anna's name comes fluently from his mouth causes me to pause. My eyes widen a bit and he catches it, smiling shortly.

"You care about her," I observe.

"She was a very big part of the reason I did some of the things I had to do while in there."

"Will you see her again?"

Cilas shakes his head, thinking he's not giving anything away, but I know what a man looks like when they're protecting someone they love. And his look is much of the same. "I'll watch her."

"Casey will want to thank you herself," I point out. "Will you let her do that?"

"Casey," he starts then stops. His face changes to an absolute serious expression and when he collects himself, he continues on. "When I got word things were starting to play out, I made her follow me around," he says with a look masked in guilt. "She probably saw s.h.i.+t she'll never forget because of me. I took her from her room and made her help me with the girls. I knew she was probably scared, but I couldn't leave her alone. Those men..." He stops, regroups again, and finishes. "I don't believe there was a woman there who deserved what was happening to them, but it was worse for her. Casey's just a kid."

I try to rea.s.sure him, but by the looks of him, he's not going to be swayed. "Thank you for doing all you did for her."

"Is she around now?"

Shaking my head with regret, I look to my watch and explain, "She's with my parents. Not sure when she'll be back."

Again we both sit in silence while looking out into the front yard. Our new neighbors sit on their front porch, watching their two small kids ride their bikes just like Marie and I used to do.

"Why'd Em go to Creed that night?" he asks with heavy reflection. "How'd she know what was happening?"

This is something Emma and I have already gone round and round about. I give him the simple answer. "She doesn't f.u.c.kin' listen to a d.a.m.n thing I say."

He laughs, but it's not sincere. "That's the reason?"

"Yes," I state plainly and as fact. "Hoss called her several times that evening, telling her Casey was in danger. She couldn't get a hold of me with all the s.h.i.+t goin' down, so when he called her and told her I was hurt, she panicked. He grabbed her before she had a chance to check on me or see Casey."

"Your woman's probably the reason they didn't hurt Casey," he replies. "If Casey would've been all Hoss had to avenge Hangar with, she wouldn't still be there. Em put herself in the way of that."

"It was you who made sure they were both okay." Pointing to him, I comment, "You healed up nicely, I see."

Cilas nods. "Taking two holes to the chest wasn't anything I wouldn't do again. I'm glad Em and Casey are good. After I was shot, I was losing a lot of blood. I saw Casey running out of her room and toward the back. She was running from the smoke. It was her instinct to survive that gave her direction. It had to have been."

"Her mother was killed inside Creed."

He doesn't answer, but again rests his elbows on his knees and moves his hands as though in prayer. "I heard this and after what happened, it didn't surprise me at all. I wasn't a fan of Dee Dee. I think maybe deep down she wanted to do right by her daughter, but she was too f.u.c.ked-up."

"She was."

"Can't picture you with a woman like her," he tells me with certainty.

"Dee Dee and I ended a f.u.c.k of a long time ago," I reply.

Cilas makes a move to stand. "I'm taking off. Glad I got the chance to tell you thanks."

With Cilas' back to the road, I see my dad's old truck pull in with Casey sitting beside him. Mom's not there, so I imagine she's been left behind. I hadn't expected Casey home for a while, which tells me one thing.

"I hope it's okay, but I called your dad." Emma's voice hits the front door at the same time Cilas turns to see what's in the driveway.

I give Emma a look, one meant to convey annoyance, but it's lost on her as I see she's smiling down in the direction of who's home just in time. I'm not sure Casey's ready to face Cilas again, and I'm even less sure of her reaction to it.

I find my worry is for nothing once Casey leaps down from Dad's truck without waiting for him to help her. I watch as she runs toward us. She stops near me, wraps her arm around my waist then looks up to Cilas and smiles wide. His look of adoration s.h.i.+nes back at her, as well.

"Casey," I call her attention.

I hear Em shut the screen door before she joins us on the porch. Dad's making his way up the drive as fast as his legs will let him. Cilas takes a step toward Casey and bends down to look at her. He rests his large arms on his knees and remains in a crouched position.

"Hi, Casey," Cilas starts first.

Casey's face scrunches in disbelief. She gives me a quick look of uncertainty then answers him with a shaky breath. "Hi."

During a session with Doc Stacey, we told Casey her feelings for Cilas were her own and they were okay to have. Her instincts told her not to be scared of him, and because she never really was, the news of what he had done for her was easily accepted.

"He came to say goodbye," I tell those around us.

"You're leaving?" she asks him directly. "You just got here."

I realize Cilas is taking in her healthy appearance and after, he looks up to me then Em and winks. Once his attention is brought back to her, he says, "Yeah. Max can explain why, but I gotta go."

Immediately and surprisingly, Casey rushes him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Cilas returns it and from where we're standing, it's obvious his hold on her is just as strong. Em drops her head onto my shoulder and I swing my arm around hers to hold her close. I feel her body shaking with emotions.

"h.e.l.lo? Anyone gonna introduce me?" Dad spits from behind us, breaking the reunion as only Dad could. "Who's the G.o.dd.a.m.n giant smothering the livin' life out of my little girl?"

Epilogue.

Five years later...

Casey Five years ago, I learned the meaning of unconditional love. The day I was rescued from Creed was truly the first day of happiness I had ever experienced. The transition from then to now hasn't always been easy. But even as I went through the hardest times, I held strong and knew I'd never be alone again. My friends and family never left my side. When I felt like talking, they were there to listen. When I needed s.p.a.ce, they gave it to me without question. Everything I've become, I owe to them.

Four years ago, Max and Emma were married. Although she had already planned to spend the rest of her life with him, she'd still cried when he'd asked and he'd rolled his eyes at her in response. Em had insisted the ceremony take place on a small mountain ridge just outside of town. Max had agreed without hesitation by saying he'd give her whatever she wanted. Tommy, Aimes, Low, his parents and I were the only people in attendance.

Three years ago, Max and Em sat me down and asked me how I would feel about becoming a permanent part of their family. When they did, I told them I felt like I already was. They've always been the only family I'd wished for. So for me, the legal adoption was merely a formality. For them, though, it was nearly the final piece to making us a family. The first time I called Max 'Dad', he stepped away. At first, I thought I had upset him but as he explained later, he told me it was the greatest honor anyone's ever given him. As the years have gone by it's become second nature.

Two years ago, my little brother, Caleb, was born. He came into this world a screaming mess. As he grows, his stubborn disposition mirrors that of both my mom and my dad.

Last year, a letter addressed to me came to the house. There was no return address, but I knew who it was from before opening it. Like me, I had found through her words that Anna was able to find herself a place in a world she never imagined she could have. There hasn't been a day gone by that I haven't given thought to her or Cilas, and I still hope to one day see them again. If that's ever a possibility.

To say my life has changed dramatically after it truly started is an understatement.

Now, I'm looking at an acceptance letter from a university three hours from here, and I can't stop the rush of tears which are ready to fall.

"Well? What does it say?" Mom asks with slight impatience as she stands next to me. She's close enough to see for herself, but her eyes aren't looking at the paper; rather, they're boring into me.

I can't imagine leaving the only place I've ever considered home, but just as I learned there was life outside the walls of Creed, I'm now learning I have to start finding my own way to the next one.

"It says it'll be an honor to have me in the fall," I reply with a shaky voice.

Her hands move to her mouth, and tears fall against her fingers as her eyes close and she takes a needed breath.

"You need to talk to him," she says quietly, in reference to my dad. Wiping her face with one hand, she settles the other on my arm for comfort. "He's outside with Caleb now."

"I should wait," I reply with hesitance. "He's been so happy."

"Honey," she whispers with a smile. "This will make him even happier."

It will, but it won't.

When I explained my decision to apply for colleges away from home, my dad was apprehensive to say the least. Throughout the last few years, I've learned that Max Taylor isn't only protective, he's protective to a fault. Being part of his family has meant learning to adhere to his constant state of worry. I don't blame him, and I don't hate it, but now that everything I've worked so hard for is coming true, I fear what this will do to him.

"I don't want to upset him," I try to explain again.

"Tell him, Casey. He'll be okay."

After hugging me tightly, Mom turns around and places the letter on the table. I watch as her back trembles and she inhales a deep breath then releases it. Just as I'm about to open the front door, I turn back for one last look to find her staring at me.

"I won't go if you don't want me to," I tell her in a gentle voice. "I can stay here and take art cla.s.ses in town."

Shaking her head, she offers only a sad smile. "No. This opportunity comes just once in a lifetime. You're going."

I nod, knowing she's right, but also knowing who I have to talk to next.

When I walk out the front door, I find Caleb and Dad lying on the hammock in the front yard. With one booted foot on the ground, I briefly watch as Dad rocks my brother to sleep while taking in the afternoon sun.

Once I approach, I realize I've failed to hide my nervousness.