Clasping his face in my hands, I say what I feel, knowing that this is my version of love and I will never feel for another. “And I would kill for you, doe.”
He beams beneath me, a slight sheen to his eyes. “You fucking romantic, you. Promise to kill for me forever?” he says.
“I'd kill for you after death, Aaron, and I will always find you, even then,” I say.
Am I perfect? Fuck no, but neither is Aaron. We both have our reasons for being as we are, but I make no apologies for it. The way I feel for him is beyond lovey emotions, it's dangerous and toxic. But we are made for each other, and nothing will tear us apart. I fucking dare anyone to try.
Epilogue
4MonthsLater
“Your new piercing looks good,” Seb says to me from across the table. I decided to get my other eyebrow pierced, the one that hasn't been ripped. It was like my fuck you to Jake in hell. Fortunately, the small scar on my damaged brow is barely visible. Luckily, my eyebrow has grown back enough to cover it, so I don’t have to see the reminder everyday.
“Yeah, I like it.'' I smile as I take a sip of my whiskey sour. Seb started making them for me when I moved in and it's my new favorite drink. Beers don't quite cut it anymore.
It feels so good to be out of the house, relaxing with a few drinks. Seb has a night off tonight so we decided to enjoy ourselves at Starlight, because god forbid we went somewhere else. The brothers nearly lost their shit when we mentioned it. I don’t mind though. It's nice to kick back and enjoy the show instead of only glimpses as we work. Well, Seb still works at the bar. Lev is not keen on me doing that, so I tend to help out with office stuff and basically follow Lev around. It would drive others mad being so attached at the hip with their significant other, but we’re happy, and we don’t care what others think.
Seb and I are sitting back in the booth that is reserved at Starlight for Dima and Lev, enjoying a full cabaret show tonight. Not my kind of thing, but it's fun to experience a free life, to be young and smile for a change. To embrace who I am, no hiding, no fear, and to have family on my side. Because that's what the Kozlovs are to me now, the family I always wanted. I would rather cut my arm off than betray them.
Things are a lot better for me too. Mentally I am coming to terms with who I am, and I accept my quirks, psycho voices and all. I’ve had a couple of nightmares where Jake tries to pry back into my brain, but as soon as I wake and see Lev next to me, it calms me straight away. As time goes on, hopefully the nightmares will stop altogether. There was bound to be damage left from what he did to me, but Lev and his family have glued me back together. There are still cracks, but those cracks fill more everyday.
Seb has become a good friend since I moved into the Kozlov mansion. He's like the brother I always wanted and it's nice to have someone who understands the brothers and what it can be like to be their obsessions. Seb struggles more than I do. More often than not I’ll do something to prod Lev into going full deranged on my ass.
As Seb and I are enjoying a general chit-chat, movement casts a shadow over the little lamp on our table. I assume it's the brothers but when I look up it's two burly guys. I can tell straight away they are gonna be a problem, especially with how the blond is leering at me. His redhead friend tries to sit next to Seb.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Seb challenges as creepy red moves into the booth next to him.
“What? Don’t want the company? I heard you two like men and you're hot. Thought you'd be up for a good time,” redhead says.
Ick.
“Fuck off, man. We ain’t interested,'' I snap.
But that doesn't seem to do anything but encourage them. I move to grab my switchblade in my pocket, which Seb sees and subtly shakes his head and nods, cocking his head to the side. I follow where he’s pointing to. Lev and Dima are storming over here. Oh shit, this will be fun. I'm already starting to get hard, watching the look of murder that's written across Lev’s stern face. I'm so damn lucky. He’s so fucking hot. I want him to fuck me right here in front of everyone.
Arriving at the booth, Dima strikes first, grabbing the head of red hair from beside Seb, pulling the big guy out of the booth and onto the floor. He kicks him in the stomach. Jules storms over with Simon and Kai. Jules helps grab the redhead.
“Do you have a death wish, touching my man, fuckhead?” Dima shouts at the redhead on the floor.
Meanwhile, Lev stealthily moves over and punches the blond who is still standing above me. He falls back into the wall next to the booth. Lev holds the guy's head low and knees him in the face, making him fall flat to the ground. Fuck yes!
“Do you know who we are?” Dima asks the redhead who is shooting daggers at Dima. Oh boy, I don't think he does.
“I don't give a shit who you are,” he says.
Lev and Dima laugh, and it sounds like the belly of evil as it rumbles from their mouths.
“Well, let us introduce ourselves. I am Lev Kozlov, and this is my brother Dima. These are our guys, does that help?” Lev snarls. He sounds like a lion. I want him to mate me.
The redhead’s face pales. Ah, so he does know who they are.
“Oh shit. I thought you owned the strip joint, not this place,” he says, floundering, but it’s too late.
“Well, now you know, and I think you need to be taught a lesson in not touching other people's things without permission,” Lev says, the excitement written all over his face.
“Wait!” the blond shouts, holding onto what looks like a broken nose. “It's not like we knew. We ain't from round here,” he pleads.
“Oh shucks, but you will learn for the future. Boys, take them out back, we will be there in a minute,” Lev orders, his eyes now focused on me.
