Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
She clutched onto me for dear life, letting me hold her, letting me take the burden off of her. Kissing the top of her head as she physically crumbled in my arms,
“Why would you bring me here? Why would you do this to me? How do you even know?” She shook uncontrollably, her voice breaking with each word that escaped her mouth.
I grabbed her face in between my hands, making her look at me. I spoke with conviction, “You. Have. Me.”
She frowned, sucking in air as she took in my words. Staring me deep in the eyes. Relaxing into my touch, calming down a little.
“You’re not alone, Lexi. Not anymore.”
“I don’t know anything about you. How do—”
“I wasn’t brought into this life. I was born into it. The man you see, the man I am. It’s always who I was supposed to be. I don’t have anyone left in this life either. But you’re mine, Lexi. You’ve always been mine,” I paused to let my words sink in. “I went for you. After…” Shaking my head, deeply shamed by my actions. “I had never been so fucking scared in my life, like I was those two days you were gone without a trace. Needing to find you, to make sure you were okay. When you left, you took me with you, cariño. I have spent the last ten years of my life, just moving along, doing what was expected of me. Every dark day was the same thing. I’m so fucking exhausted of this Hell, there are days I’ve contemplated on ending it all.”
Her eyes showed so many emotions, crippling me in ways I never thought possible.
“I need you to remember all of that when you look at me. Do you understand?”
She fervently nodded, unable to form words. Tears streamed down her face as I allowed her into my truths. I wiped them all away as fast as they came.
“When Leo called me the morning of your accident, and told me you were badly hurt, hanging on by a thread, I thought I’d lost you for good. The last memory I’ve held onto these last ten years was the night I left you sleeping in my bed. Your hair spread out, your tiny frame beneath my sheets, so at peace. I have yet to see that woman in the last six months. The one I think about day and night. I brought you here to help you find your peace again, Lexi,” I murmured, softly pecking her lips, tasting her salty tears.
Surprised she didn’t push me away. Barely controlling the urge to devour her fucking mouth, but it wasn’t the right time, or the right place. I had to kiss her, though. To feel her lips against mine.
I couldn’t not fucking kiss her.
Pulling back, nodding toward Rick. He popped open the trunk of the limo, bringing me what I needed, to end this once and for all. I stood, bringing her with me, grabbing her crutches, securing them under her arms. I kissed her one last time, looking deep into her eyes. Finally, seeing a glimpse of the man she always knew lived inside of me.
Rick handed me what I needed, and I released her. Walking back toward the beaten house. She stood there with wide eyes, her mouth dropped open with the realization of what I was about to do. She watched as I laced the entire house with gasoline. Throwing the red can at it before peering back over at her. I flipped open the lighter.
“I can chase away your demons, but they’ll never stop chasing you. Do you want to do this?”
She swallowed hard, taking a deep breath before walking toward me on her crutches. She consciously peered from the house back to the lighter I held in my grasp. Contemplating the dark ghosts of her past and the brightness of her future. With a shaking hand, she reached out, taking the lighter, stating, “Thank you.”
I nodded, as she flicked the lighter, igniting the stream of gasoline that lead to her porch. Watching the flames engulf the rundown shithole of her childhood.
Sending her past to burn in Hell.
The night we flew back from Rhode Island six months ago, he carried me into his bedroom, and I went willingly. He set me down on his cool, silk sheets, propped my feet up, handing me my medication. Knowing I needed to dull my pain in more ways than one. He was so gentle, so caring and compassionate.
I spent the rest of the night in his arms content, at peace, happy for the first time since I could remember.
“Get some rest, cariño. You’re safe, I’m here,” he whispered into my hair.
I shook my head, nuzzling deeper into his chest. Unable to be close enough. Emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted, I fell asleep sometime before dawn. His soft touch skimming my back pulled me under, soothing me. I startled awake, searching for him, finding myself alone. For some reason I didn’t panic, I didn’t have to. I felt him there with me even though I was alone in his room. His side of the bed was still warm, causing a smile to tug at my lips. He came in minutes after I woke up with a tray full of every kind of food known to man.