"And now?"
"Now I think he was wrong. Or maybe—" I trace her cheekbone. "Maybe love is dangerous. Maybe it is weakness. But I don't care anymore. Because when you called, when youneeded me—" My throat tightens. "There was no choice. No decision to make. Just getting to you. Keeping you safe."
Tears slide down her cheeks.
"You really came for me."
"I will always come for you." I wipe away her tears. "Always. No matter where you are. No matter what you've done. You call, I come. That's how this works now."
"Even though I betrayed you?"
"You were surviving. Just like today." I lean my forehead against hers. "And I'll spend the rest of my life making up for the fact that you had to survive me."
She kisses me.
Soft. Tentative. Like she's not sure I'll kiss back.
I do.
Hard. Desperate. Pouring everything I can't say into it.
When we break apart, her tears flow harder.
"I love you," she whispers. "I know I shouldn't. I know you don't want to hear it. But I do. I love you."
The words should terrify me. A week ago, they did.
Now they just feel inevitable. True.
"I know." I pull her into my arms. Hold her tight. "I know you do."
I can't say it back yet. Can't give her those words when I'm still figuring out what they mean.
But I will. Eventually.
She takes what I can give. Buries her face in my chest.
And we sit there. Two broken people covered in invisible blood.
Holding each other in the wreckage we've made.
It's not forgiveness.
It's not redemption.
But it's something.
And for now, that's enough.
CHAPTER 24
Gemma
A week passes, and Saint and I pretend that things are fine. Neither of us brings up the past, nor do we discuss Alexei's murder.
The sex helps.
God, the sex helps.
