One year after surviving manipulation and public betrayal, Tommy Marcum is done running. In Freedom (Consumed by the Shadows, Book Three), Tommy returns to the small Alabama town that nearly broke him-and forges something unburnable from what remains: truth, community, and a life he owns.The ghosts still knock: smear pieces, late-night threats, a stolen past resurfacing. But this is a different Tommy-anchored by his son, a rebuilt circle of allies, and the Lantern Keepers Archive, a living record that turns pain into proof. From a tense D.C. reckoning to a rain-soaked porch confrontation, from a workshop reborn in sparks to a town square lit by bonfire and lanterns, Tommy learns the hardest mercy of all: forgiveness without surrender.As Cordova rises-youth welding programs, art that heals, a touring exhibit, and a phoenix sculpture forged from many hands-Tommy plants new roots, breaks generational cycles, and chooses the steady courage of everyday love. When the past finally lets go, he steps into a morning that belongs to him.Themes readers love: psychological horror edges, domestic suspense, narcissistic abuse recovery, small-town resilience, found family, redemption, hopeful ending.Perfect for fans of deeply human psychological thrillers and literary small-town suspense that trade jump scares for atmosphere, character, and catharsis.The Consumed by the Shadows TrilogyBook 1: Manipulation - Book 2: Betrayal - Book 3: Freedom (this book)