"Yeah, close to total devastation."
I shut my eyes and tried to breathe but it was hard.Everythingwas hard right now. Even standing up. Even justbeing.
His lips touched mine and I got goosebumps all on the back of my neck and down my spine and I leaned into the kiss long enough for it to reinvigorate me before I opened my eyes again.
I was met with his beautiful blue gaze, and I couldn't help but smile. The world may be burning but he still looked at me as if I'd hang the moon and stars.
"Breathe. Just breathe," he whispered and kissed me again, soft chaste kisses that still managed to make my insides flutter and my body feel as if it was soaring through the sky.
"Come. Have a seat. I'll make us some tea." He pulled me to the couch and then walked back to the kitchen to boil the water and prepare our drinks.
I wanted to listen to him, to breathe, to believe he wouldn't hate me for the harm I'd caused him, but I couldn't. Especially when he put the tea down in front of me and the sweet, fruity scent of his blueberry mix wafted under my nostrils.
I took a courteous sip, but I couldn't help the guilt coiling in my chest like thorns.
A little while later, when there was barely any tea left in my cup and whatever was left had gone stone cold, there was a knock on the front door.
Dare pulled out a gun from his back and approached the door but put it away again after checking through the peep hole.
He followed one of the firefighters outside and I couldn't take it anymore. I had to put a stop to this torture. I had to make this madness end before it was too late.
I grabbed my phone and ran to the bathroom. I locked the door and sat on the toilet seat and opened my text messaging app.
Zach: Are you there?
I tapped my foot. I watched the screen so intensely it all became blurry. My gut tightened as I waited for a response. I tried not to think of what I'd do if he didn't answer. I tried not to think of what would happen if he did. I just waited and waited and waited but the seconds seemed to pass like minutes.
Just when I was about to give up, though, my phone buzzed and a text bubble appeared on my screen.
Unknown number: Always
I would have taken a sigh of relief if I wasn’t talking to a monster.
Before I answered him, I stood up, looked at myself in the mirror, stared into my eyes, into my past and everything I had endured, then I started typing.
Zach: I'll come with you. This has gone on long enough. I'll go back to New York with you. Just stop hurting people. Stop hurting me and I'll come with you. Please.
I hated the words. I hated myself for doing this but there was no other way. I couldn't think of any other way to stop him.
A couple of seconds later he replied.
Unknown number: Anything for you baby
Before I exited the bathroom I gave him further instructions and returned to the kitchen, poured another cup of tea for myself and waited for Dare to get back.
"Everything okay?" I asked and already I could breathe a little easier.
My stomach might still be in turmoil, my mind might be terrified of going back to him, but my heart was at peace knowing Dare and everyone I loved would no longer be hurt by Victor.
"They're still working on it, but they've almost put it out. The damage has been contained to some of the new crops I planted since I took over, so it’s not a total loss," Dare said and I offered him my tea.
"That's great," I answered and my smile was almost genuine.
I mean, I was happy for him. That he hadn't lost absolutely everything. Not yet anyway. But soon he wouldn't have to worry about any of that. He could start over without fear.
"See? I told you things would work out," he said and pulled me in his lap.
He held me there for what felt like forever and I stayed there, savoring the warmth of his body and the tenderness of his affection. I should get as much of it as I could before I returned to Victor. Who knew when I'd get any again.
