“You all seem so sure Richard won’t be a threat in a couple of days,” She whispers.
“He won’t be,” I assure her. “We’ve been doing this a long time and have dealt with worse people than Richard.”
“So why wasn’t he dealt with ages ago?” She questions.
“Because he was a little fish, not really a threat, but he got too big for his boots when he decided to blackmail Sebastian. It’s why he wants to deal with him himself.”
“So now it’s just going to be over?” She circles her fingers on my abdomen, the muscles jumping where she touches. “Just like that.”
“Just like that.”
“I thought I’d be more… scared.” She keeps her face turned away as she speaks, “Listening to your plan, how you intend to kill a man, but I’m not.”
“We’re monsters to everyone elsebutthe people we love.” I tell her.
Her head snaps up. “What did you just say?”
I curl a finger under her chin to force her to keep her eyes on me. “You didn’t know it already, Butterfly?” I tease.
“No,” She breathes.
“I,” I shift us until I can brush my mouth on hers, “Love.” She whimpers against my lips. “You.”
“Are you sure?” She laughs, putting some space between us.
“Sure that I love you?” I chuckle. “No.”
Her face drops.
“Love isn’t a strong enough word.” I fill the silence left behind. “There is not a place you can go where I won’t find you. Not a being strong enough to keep me from you. Not a monster I won’t destroy, not a door that can hold me, nor a length I will not go to for you.”
“You love me,” She chokes out.
“I’ve loved you from the moment you told me to put on a shirt.”
A watery laugh bursts from her right before she slants her mouth over mine, and I taste the saltiness of her tears.
She moves in a way that keeps our mouths attached as she straddles me, and though she doesn’t repeat the words, she shows me, and with her, it’s all I’ll ever need.
Chapter Thirty-eight
His words have been replaying inside my head for the past several hours, and as I move the makeup brush over my cheeks, adding a little blush to finish the look, my eyes well once more with hot tears.
“Fuck,” I grumble, turning my face to the ceiling as I blink rapidly to try to clear away the water before it ruins the eyeliner and mascara I put on. When the threat of smudged makeup is gone, I return to face the mirror, finishing the look with some deep red lipstick.
The door behind me bursts open, making me jump, and Savannah bundles into the room, “You’ve been keeping secrets!” She squeals.
I wince toward my best friend, “In my defense, it’s new.”
“Ha,” She scoffs, “No, it’s not.”
“Huh?” I question.
“Dean’s been gone for you for months. We all knew it, you just had to catch up.”
I stare at her.
“What?” She flutters her lashes innocently. “He didn’t exactly hide it.”
