No, this just feels more personal.
“Let me put you onto something, Trevor.” I spit his name so he knows just how much he disgusts me. “Carter was never going to share her with you. He’s not the type. More than likely, he was using you, which is why he had no issue leaving you behind and hasn’t made a single attempt to come and save you.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but I see the flicker of doubt that flashes in his eyes, and that’s more than enough for me.
I wasn’t lying when I said I have better things to do.
Though taking a shit would be a better use of my time than this.
“Don’t worry, though. He won’t get the chance to have her either. Neither of you will because I’m going to kill you, and then I’m going to hunt him down and do the same to him. She isn’t yours, never has been, and never will be.”
“No, please. Just let me see her, let me explain to her. She’ll understand, I know she will.” He doubles down on his efforts to get free as he begs, but all I see is the man who broke into her house and stole her panties, who cornered her at the school, and who threatened her with hurting Addy.
I press the barrel of my gun to his temple and don’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
He slumps to the side. The only sound is the ringing in my ears from the shot, and for the first time since that day, I take a deep breath, some of the tension leaving.
Now I can breathe enough to find Carter and do the same.
It’s my job to keep them safe. Nathan trusted me with them—the two most important women in his life—and I failed.
It’s unacceptable, but I intend to fix it.
It’s the only way I know to ensure her nightmares can’t reach her and take that weight off her shoulders.
I made Kat a promise, and I intend to keep it, no matter who I have to gun down to do it.
Blinking past the bright light, I wake slowly to find Alex still here, the sun already up. I feel so refreshed. I don’t know how long I slept, but I know it’s the most sleep I’ve gotten in days.
A smile pulls at my lips as I look up at him. He looks so peaceful in sleep. He’s always handsome; they all are, but he’s got the male variant of resting bitch face for sure. Nathan does too, but he’s actually mean most of the time, so I guess it fits.
I need to get up; I know I do. Addy is probably up already with Nathan or will be soon. But even knowing that, I can’t make myself move.
Reaching up, I ghost a finger over his cheek and down his jaw, tracing the scar there. I’ve never asked and probably never will, but I’ve always wondered what happened.
“He’s never told us what happened either, so don’t feel bad.” Desmond’s sleep-husky voice makes me squeal in surprise and whip around to face him.
“Oh my God, Des.” I press a hand to my chest as I struggle to keep my heart from bursting free.
“Sorry, Kitten.” He tosses me one of his pretty-boy smiles before reaching for me, but I smack his hand away because he doesn’t look sorry at all.
My confusion must be clear on my face because he explains. “I snuck in last night when I saw you didn’t turn Alex away the way you have been doing to me. When I saw you both cuddled up all cute, I couldn’t resist joining you. I’d only planned to chill for a minute but…” He trails off with a shrug, and I feel my annoyance melt away.
With a huff, I move to cuddle him, only to be stopped.
Apparently, we woke up Alex.
Des doesn’t seem the least bit deterred, though. Instead, he leans over and presses a kiss to my cheek.
“You look like you slept well.” The smile on his face is warm and feels like it’s just for me. It has me smiling back so wide that my cheeks ache.
“Yes, we were sleeping wonderfully. Now piss off,” Alex grumbles, pulling me back down to lie on his chest again, making me giggle at how grumpy he sounds.
“Alex,” I scold, swatting at his hand that rests on my head until he moves it.
“Don’t Alex me. He’s come to steal you away.” I can’t see his face, but I swear it sounds like he’s pouting, and that only makes me fight his hold harder.
“No, he’s not.”
