Summer watches Tarrah take him to his room, and she walks slowly down to the living room to meet them. Alex watches her enter, and he sees the change in her eyes. Gone is the young woman who sailed across the sea. Victor joins her, and they all go into dinner. Summer is quiet as the men discuss the plan. In the morning they are leaving to go to Pennsylvania. Along the way, they will check each stop, to see if any of the attendants recognize him.
“He hasn't got much of a lead on us,” Seth says.
“It will be his desire for attention that leads us to him.” Summer explains. “He is a cocky bastard, he never even considers getting caught. If we follow the trail of his candy making it should help narrow down the search. They are his calling card, Seth. He has to have special ingredients to make them. I suppose that could help find him as well?” She questions.
“What do you mean, we?” Alex asks. “You aren’t getting within a foot of him ever again,” he states to her.
“I am not a little girl, Alex. I need to see this finished.” Victor stands and leaves the room quietly. Summer sighs and drops her napkin on the table. “Excuse me, please.” She follows him into the gardens.
“When were you going to tell me?” He demands, not looking at her as she approaches.
“Victor, please understand. I thought I could do it, but I am broken, I can’t marry you until I see this through.”
“Summer, we are both broken. Most humans are, it is a chance we take when we love, but I know something you don't. The only way to heal is to be broken together. The damaged parts of our hearts need to be mended.” He grabs her by her upper arms, desperate to make her see the truth. “You have never given up, don’t give up now! Fight the fear. Fight for what you want, the way you fought to survive.” He pulls her towards him, but she stops him with a hand to his chest.
“I can’t give you what you ask of me, Victor,” she sobs now because her heart is screaming at her to reach for him. “You say you have been where I am, but you haven’t. He is still doing it! Don't you see? He knows where I am? He knows about you and Jonah. What if he comes after you?” She grabs his arm and squeezes it, “He's a monster. You think you are safe and that you can protect us, but are you truly willing to take that chance?”
“You're right, Summer. He must pay for killing your family. For killing hundreds of people. Let Alex and Seth take care of it. Stay with us where you're safe.”
“I can’t do that. Don’t you understand? I will never be free of him as long as he is still alive. I need to see it, I want to watch him die!”
“Then he has already won, Summer. You may never find him and make him pay, but as long as your heart is full of hatred and vengeance, you will never have room for us.” He drops his hands and steps back.
“I’m sorry, Victor. I’m leaving with my brother in the morning,” she turns and walks back to the house.
Alex watches Victor return from the garden and sees Summer run to the stable and leave on a horse. He snags his coat before going after his sister. He finds her on her knees, dusting the leaves from the headstones in the cemetery. “You plan on joining them, little sister?”
“You couldn't understand, Alex, what it was like watching them die, one by one, and being unable to stop it.” Alex walks to her and drops to his knees beside her. He puts an arm around her shoulder and pulls her to his side.
“No, I couldn’t. I don’t know that I would have been as strong as you, Summer, but I do know that Mother would kick your arse from here to London if she saw you now.” She shoves him and leaps to her feet.
“Mother would understand, Alex! She was pregnant when she died, and father didn't even know!” Openly sobbing now, she watches the color drain from his face as he climbs to his feet.
“I can't sleep for the nightmares. The sound of their gasping for air, begging for help and then the silence. OH, God, the silence!” She scrubs desperately at her eyes, wiping the tears away, “Alex, I try to make it stop, and sometimes, with Victor and Jonah, it does for a little while. But he made sure I would know they would be next when he sent the tin of chocolates here. The safest place for both of them is far away from me!”
“Summer, you don’t have to carry this alone. You have been gifted with a man who understands loss. Who is willing to heal with you, encourage your dreams, and honor your past. Look at what he did for you!” He motions to the gravestones. “You don’t have to die to honor our family, you have to live for them! I'll be leaving in the morning. We must follow the lead on Dr. Rudolph while it’s fresh. I promise he will pay. You have done more than enough. Trust me to take care of him, and when it is over, I will return. If you are with me, I will have to worry about your safety. He would try to use that Summer, and it would work. You are all the family I have left, I am asking you to trust me, sister, can you do that?” She is shaking her
