Chapter 5 - The Winter Cage
Right on cue, the heavy, intricately carved wooden doors behind me groaned open.
A blast of freezing mountain air rushed into the stifling ballroom. Two uniformed state troopers walked in, their heavy boots thudding against the marble floor. They bypassed me entirely, their eyes locked on the groom standing at the front of the room. They walked straight down the aisle, their boots crushing the scattered white rose petals into the stone.
“Mason Vance,” the older trooper announced, his hand resting casually on his utility belt.
Mason didn't run. He didn't argue. There was absolutely nowhere left for him to go. He was completely, utterly trapped in the prison of his own making.
“You are under arrest for grand larceny, reckless endangerment of a minor, and attempted manslaughter,” the trooper stated, grabbing Mason’s arm and spinning him around.
The heavy steel handcuffs clicked loudly. The metallic sound echoed off the high, vaulted ceilings, drowning out the murmurs of the horrified guests.
Claire didn't cry. She didn't protest. She simply turned her back on the man she had almost married, walked over to her father, and buried her face in his chest.
As the troopers led Mason back up the aisle, the crowd parted for him in absolute disgust. He was forced to walk right past me. The arrogant, charming smile was permanently gone. He just looked hollow, terrified, and pathetic.
He stopped for a fraction of a second, looking down at the baby resting safely against my chest.
“Rachel,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
I didn't smile. I didn't gloat. I just looked at the monster who had tried to turn the mountains into our graveyard.
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“Enjoy the cold, Mason,” I said.
I turned around, pulled my coat tighter around my daughter, and walked out of the ballroom doors, stepping back into the crisp, beautiful winter air. We had survived the storm. And Mason was finally going to freeze.
