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“She is home” My voice is stern and leaves no room for discussion, but then it hitsout, and now there is nothing that can keep her here My shoulders sag as I think about the possibility of losing her I glance over at her, holding oes back and she’s open to it, Milo and I will go with her I’ll miss my parents and my brother, but fuck if I can lose her

I can’t I won’t

“What did I miss?” Chase asks

HeHollis “It’s over She’s safe We’re all safe” The words are thick in my throat

“You good?” he asks me

“Yeah We’re good here Thanks for the ride Let me knohen youyou up”

“Not a hold up, brother,” he assures me

I watch as he gives Hollis’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and waves at To

“We’re sorry for all that you went through,” Nancy tells Hollis “We have statements here from the LAPD It ensures your safety There are numbers there that you can call if you ever need us or feel unsafe in any way”

I want to tell the back there, but I can’t do that I don’t knohat she’s going to do

“Thank you,” Hollis says

“I can take hi for my son

“No He’s fine He’s sleeping peacefully” She glances down at my son in her arms

“What now?” I ask Tom and Nancy

“Nothing Life goes on as nor time”

“And their gang or people or whatever you call them?”

“No gang There are a few other people we have also brought in on es They will be in jail for at least ten years They didn’t know anything about Hollis, or this situation They were the pushers of the drugs if you will We can assure you that you are safe We wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case”

“Just like that?”

“I know it’s hard for you to grasp, especially you, Hollis,” Nancy says “Rest assured, you are safe, and this is over You are safe to go home”