I stand over him, the poker still gripped tightly in my hands. The adrenaline is fading, leaving me shaky and lightheaded.
Morello puts a steadying hand on my shoulder. "It's okay. You can let go now."
I release a long breath, setting the poker down.
My hands tremble.
I acted on pure instinct to protect Morello.
But seeing Luchenko lying there, knowing I'm capable of that violence, leaves me deeply unsettled.
Morello seems to sense my distress.
"You did what you had to do," he says gently. "It's not in your nature to hurt without reason. Don't doubt yourself."
I nod, though his words only partially reassure me.
I know he's right—I'd had no choice.
But it doesn't change the fact that I nearly killed a man today.
The biological father of my child.
"I should check on Yara," I say, needing to see my daughter safe. Needing that reminder of why I had fought so hard.
Morello inclines his head in understanding. "I'll keep watch on our friend here until back-up arrives."
As I descend into the cellar, Yara flies into my arms. "Mama! Are you okay?"
I hold her tight, stroking her hair. "I'm okay, baby. Everything is going to be okay now."
And saying those words to her, feeling the warmth and weight of her in my arms, I start to believe them.
What matters isn't how close I'd come to the edge today.
It's that my daughter is safe. We are free.
I nod slowly as I try to process everything that had just happened.
The violence, the fear, the desperation—it all feels surreal now in the dim quiet of the cellar.
Yara looks up at me, her eyes wide. "Is the bad man gone? Mr. Luchenko?"
"He's not going to hurt us anymore," I say, smoothing back her hair.
I don't want to frighten her with the details.
"The police are coming to take him away."
"Good," she says fiercely, and I have to smile at her courage. "That's where the bad guys belong. In the slammer!"
My brave girl.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself before I speak again. "Yara, I need you to stay here a little longer while I go help Morello. Can you do that for me?"
She bites her lip but nods.
"That's my girl." I press a kiss to her forehead. "I'll come get you soon. Everything will be okay now."