Chapter 20 - The Unpaid Debt
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Six months later, the dust had finally settled. Luke, Brenda, and Oscar were sitting in federal holding, awaiting a massive criminal trial with decades of prison time hanging over their heads. Chloe, avoiding charges by flipping on her own family, had moved into a tiny, rundown studio apartment on the bad side of Nashville.
My divorce was finalized swiftly, granting me complete control of my finances and a hefty restitution settlement. I was sitting on the balcony of my Atlanta apartment, watching the sunset paint the city in brilliant hues of orange and purple. The burn on my wrist had faded to a barely visible scar, a small physical reminder of the fire I had walked through to find my freedom.
I took a sip of my wine, feeling truly at peace for the first time in years.
Then, the doorbell rang.
I walked inside, setting my glass on the counter, and opened the front door. The hallway was empty. But sitting perfectly centered on my welcome mat was a sleek, unmarked black box.
Frowning, I picked it up and carried it inside. I popped the lid off. Inside, resting on a bed of velvet, was a single, pristine gel nail, painted a bright, violent red.
Tucked underneath it was a small, typed note.
May you like
Congratulations on getting rid of Brenda and Luke, Hannah. But the $2.2 million they were trying to borrow wasn't for Chloe’s apartment. It was to pay us back. And since you’re the one holding all the assets now... we’ll be seeing you very soon.
My blood ran ice cold as the heavy wooden door behind me slowly clicked shut. The Carter family was gone, but the monsters they owed were just arriving.
