Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
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Charity stared across the street. The doors in her car were all locked, and she only wished that the windows were bulletproof. This part of the city was never on the brochures. Women walked around semi-naked, men with their dicks hanging out. The scent of sewage backed up heavy in the air, so much so that it turned her stomach.
It had been several months since Dwayne had come for her. He’d stormed that bar, killed those men, and then taken her home.
She gripped the steering wheel tightly, hating the sickness that rolled through her. She couldn’t bring herself to drive away.
In the past few months it had been surreal. She’d graduated and was now living with Dwayne. She had even begun applying for work, which he told her she didn’t need to do, but she didn’t want to spend all the time at home doing nothing. She was a woman who wanted to work, or at least occupy herself while Dwayne was out of the house.
She knew what he did on a regular basis, and, being home while he was putting his life at risk, she would go insane.
He was her life.
Her parents had wanted her to move back home, but she refused. She didn’t want to go back home. The last time she visited them she told them she loved Dwayne. Of course, they didn’t think it was love but had to do with the fact that he’d come for her when no one else did. They didn’t seem to understand that she’d been falling in love with him for a long time.
Yes, he was a monster.
Yes, he killed people.
He was so many bad things rolled into one package, but she knew the real man. Not the man that could kill a dozen people without caring. She knew he was a good man, someone who at times had nightmares about his past.
She was pleased his father was dead as she’d woken up the other night to hear Dwayne whimpering, begging for him to stop, twitching in such a way that she knew he was being whipped in the dream. It had broken her heart to witness. When she finally got him awake, he’d held her tightly, kissing her, and it wasn’t long before he was making love to her. She’d been able to chase the nightmares away for him, and it had twisted her heart so much.
There was a knock at her window, and she gasped as she looked up to see Dwayne by her passenger window. Flicking open the locks, he climbed inside, taking a seat beside her.
“What are we doing?” he asked.
“How did you know where I was?”
“I put a tracker on your cell phone, car, and also in your bag so I know where you are at all times.”
“Holy crap! Like, really!” She turned to look at him, not sure if she was happy or angry at him.
“Yes, I told you I’d do whatever I could to protect you. You also have a guard, but seeing as you didn’t see him, I’m not telling you who he is.”
She couldn’t believe he was saying this, but she didn’t argue.
“So, why are you here?” he asked.
Charity laughed. “Believe it or not, it’s the exact day of the month you came for me.”
“I know, which is why I got you this.” He held out a small velvet box, and her heart started to pound.
“I didn’t get you anything.”
“Finding you is all the gift I need.”
She opened the box, and there was a ring nestled in the dark fabric. She didn’t know what to say. It was so beautiful.
“I was hoping you’d consider marrying me, Charity. I did have a big dinner planned. A fancy restaurant, nice wine, we could talk, but then … you didn’t come home, and you came here.”
“You want to marry me?”
“I’m in love with you, Charity. Have been for a long time now. I know I’m not the most ideal person to have as a husband, but I promise you that there will never be another woman for me. I love you more than anything in the world, and if you give me the chance, I know I’ll be here for you, always. You’ll want for nothing in your life.”
“Yes,” she said.
“What?”
“I said yes.”
“But, I have dinner set up at home.”
“I don’t care. I love you too.” She reached over and caressed his face. “So much, I love you.” She chuckled. “Even if this isn’t the most romantic place, to me it’s perfect.”
“A good memory from a bad place?” he asked.
“Yes. I’ll always remember this moment, no matter what.”
He sank his fingers into her hair and kissed her hard. She melted against him, knowing that it didn’t matter if he was the worst romantic in the world. Dwayne made her feel alive. He gave her so much, and there was no way she was ever going to let that feeling go, not even for a second.