I rush upstairs to our bedroom, my feet slamming against the wood floor with each step. When I make it to the room, I go through the drawers, grabbing panties, bras, T-shirts, yoga pants—anything I can get my hands on. I pull a small suitcase from the closet and shove all the shit into it. I don’t worry about my own clothing. I have a bunch of shit at Xander’s place anyway. Once done, I race around the bathroom grabbing a bunch more of Keira’s shit, and when I get back to the kitchen, I toss the suitcase aside and look at Keira. Her ass is still seated on the counter like she’s a part of it.
“Are…?” I start, but the sound of the doorbell ringing interrupts us once again, and I grind my teeth together, pulling away.
“Stay put until they get the body out of here. Okay?” I hate the way I sound and how bossy I am being. I don’t think she would get up anyway, since she hasn’t moved since I put her on the damn counter.
Keira nods her head, placing her hands in her lap. She still seems shaken up, but I know she’ll move on. She knows nothing’s going to happen to me, and anyone who tries to hurt her may as well commit suicide because they’re dead for trying.
I step over Hayley’s body and peek through the glass, checking to make sure it’s Toni. When I see his round face and two of my men flanking him, I open the door. After he and the other men enter, Toni’s eyes scan the scene. He doesn’t askquestions, and even if he did, I wouldn’t give him answers. He doesn’t need to know what happened. I pay him to clean up the mess and keep his mouth shut.
“Boss,” the three greet me in unison, and I tip my chin at them.
“Make it look like an accident. I don’t care what kind.” My stomach churns as I walk away, leaving Toni to clean up the mess.
I march back into the kitchen, walk over to Keira, and cup her cheeks. I rub my thumbs up and down them, breathing deeply.
“Everything is going to be fine, baby. Everything is going to be fine,” I whisper, praying like hell my words aren’t a lie.
If anything happens to Keira, I’ll kill everyone.
Every. Single. Person.
Chapter 21
Keira
Istare at my hands as we stand in the kitchen, waiting for them to move Hayley’s body. Her death hasn’t fully sunk in. Strangely, I don’t feel bad. You’re supposed to feel bad when someone dies, right? I was sad when my brother died. I should be sad Hayley’s dead. I should be terrified the man I love killed her, snapping her neck right in front of me.
He did it without thought—like his body knew what it was doing—like it was something he did every single day.
I’m still waiting for feelings to come, but I feel nothing. My emotions twist out of control, and all I can think about is I could’ve lost Damon—and if I had, it would’ve been at her hands.
A horrible thought enters my mind. I want to forget it, but once it’s there, I can’t seem to get it out. If I would have had the chance, I would have killed her myself. If I were as strong as Damon—no, I know I would have broken her neck myself.
Damon is standing right in front of me, watching me as if I’m seconds away from exploding. He’s probably wondering how I’m going to handle all this. What would he think of me if he knew what I was conjuring up right now?
My dark thoughts are interrupted when Toni steps into the room.
“All done, boss.”
“All right. Come on, baby.” Damon offers me a hand, helping me off the counter. He guides me out of the room, grabbing the suitcase he packed on the way out.
We walk through the foyer where Hayley’s dead body was laying across thefloor. It’s gone now, but my eyes are still fixated to the spot. I walk around the area like it’s going to burn my shoes if I touch it—like the wood is tainted or something…as if her death has left an evil residue on the floor.
Damon holds my hand, practically dragging me out the door to his car like nothing happened. It’s strange to go from someone dying to pretending like nothing happened.
When we make it to the car, he opens the door and all but lifts me into the passenger seat. I know I need to say something, anything, to make him aware I’m okay, but I don’t want to say a word. I don’t think I can without breaking down.
All I can think about is a world without Damon. I knew he was dangerous, that he came with an X on his back, but I guess, in my eyes, he seemed invincible. But after tonight, I know he’s not. He’s just as close to death as the rest of us—maybe even closer considering what he does for a living.
I don’t even realize Damon’s in the car and we’re driving down the road until I catch a pair of headlights coming at us.
“Would you please say something?” Damon’s white knuckling the steering wheel, clearly upset by my silence, but I don’t know what to say that I haven’t already.
“I’m okay,” I mumble. I can see the worry in his gaze, and I don’t want him to be concerned about me, because it’s not me I’m worried about. It’s going to take time, but I’ll be okay.
I spent so much time trying to run from him and fearing him, only to end up being terrified of losing him. Even after all this, all we’ve been through, all he’s done, I love him beyond this life.
I’ll love him forever.
