Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 143453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
“Listen to me, Annika.” His voice carries in the cold air like a whip. “You’re the only person who ever reached inside me, saw the ugly, rotten parts, but stayed anyway. You gave me yourself in spite of knowing how empty I am. You even filled me up with your endless energy, purple color, and fucking violets. I didn’t understand how you liked me when I didn’t like myself, how you fought to make me experience normal things despite my disinterest. When I found out the truth about my childhood, the only thing that broke me was knowing I couldn’t be with you anymore. And when you didn’t choose me and pulled that trigger, I became a bitter wanker with a death wish. I didn’t care what happened as long as I had you, which is why I brought you here. But I realize now that it wasn’t the right thing to do, which is why I chose to let you go. What you’re doing isn’t the right thing either. You might be able to live without me, but I won’t survive a day without you, so your death won’t solve any-fucking-thing. If you pull that trigger, mark my words, I will follow right after you.”
My fingers tremble as an onslaught of emotions overtakes me. “You’d rather die than let go of the past?”
“I would rather die than live without you.” His chest rises and falls with violent ferocity. “You don’t complete me, you’re a part of me. If you go, that’s not different than erasing me along with you.”
His words sink into the marrow of my bones and flow into my bloodstream. “It doesn’t have to be like this, Creighton. Neither of us has to die if you just promise to try and leave the past behind. For you. For me. For us.”
“Will you love me again if I do?”
A small smile grazes my lips as I lower the gun, place it in one of the guard’s hands and walk toward him with purposeful steps.
He meets me halfway, his strong hands wrapping around my waist as my arms circle his neck. “I never stopped loving you, silly.”
His eyes shutter slowly, and a long breath rips out of his chest. When he opens them again, they’re clear blue.
Resigned.
“You win, little purple.”
“I win?”
“All of me. My heart, body, and soul are yours. My grudge is also yours to do whatever you wish with.”
“Including moving past it?”
“Including that.” His hand falls on my hip and he strokes gently. “I lost to you a long time ago. I love you, Annika. I love you to the point I see darkness without you and light only when I’m with you. You’re my sanctuary and the one person who makes me whole.”
A tear slides down my cheek. That’s all I ever wanted from Creighton, to be the person he leans on, the one person he trusts to show everything inside him.
Because he’s it for me.
He was the one long before I realized it myself.
I’m about to kiss him when the clearing of a throat stops me.
Shit.
I forgot Papa and the others were here all along.
Slowly, I release Creighton, but he holds my hand, interlinking my fingers with his when we face Papa.
This time, I don’t try to run away or hide like when Jeremy found us. This time, I stand by his side and refuse to move.
“You’re bold to think I’d let you have my daughter,” he speaks to Creighton, but at least his gun is hidden from sight.
“I won’t leave,” Creighton announces point-blank.
“Willingly,” Papa supplies. “I can find methods to make you leave.”
“Papa!”
“We’re going home, Anoushka,” he announces.
“Like fuck—”
“You’re coming with us,” Papa cuts him off.
“W-why?” I stammer. Please don’t tell me he’s taking him back to kill him as he promised.
“I’m sure your mother would like to meet him.”
“Oh… Oh!” I say again with a grin. “Does that mean you approve of us, Papa?”
“No,” he says bluntly. “But I would rather have this little fuck under surveillance so I can end him before he attempts anything funny.”
He glares at Creighton, who glares right back. As if this is some sort of a challenge.
Things won’t be easy, but I’m ready to fight.
For him.
For us.
40
ADRIAN
ONE MONTH LATER
My attempts to get rid of the pest who has snatched away my daughter have come to an irritating dead end.
I had hoped that with time, the young love haze would slowly fade and we’d have our sunshine back.
That slimy fucker had the audacity not only to steal her, but to also make her fall in love with him so deeply that she’s become his designated defense attorney whenever anyone attempts to take a jab at him.
We wouldn’t be in this predicament if I hadn’t saved him that day seventeen years ago, but the fact remains that he was only a kid back then, and I would’ve upset the other important woman in my life if I’d left him to die.