The flames are instantaneous, almost beautiful in the way they climb up the steps, clinging to the accelerant before claiming the kitchen floor.
So is her laugh as she walks backward with Helene’s muffled screams fighting the roar as I thread our fingers together. We run towards our fucking life together where no one else exists. Our joint laughter echoes through the damp tunnels as we follow the faint light from Daigon’s flashlight. He stops, allowing us to catch up with his new pets loyal at his feet.
“All done?” he asks when we reach him.
“All done,” Delilah says with the brightest fucking smile. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it, troublemaker. You’re going to pay me back by teaching the little demon the piano.”
89
DELILAH
All the ideas of torture I had weren’t needed when Helene was fueled by control. But she’s covered in shit, burning in an empty house as I sit across Kane’s thighs, watching the thick black smoke swirl around the roaring flames burning across the island.
I push my hand into the pocket of my hoodie, flattening my palm over the photos and the sand timer. My babies are with us while she’s nothing other than ash. As soon as we get across the channel and Daigon’s phone gets network, he calls Ruby. The dogs are sleeping at his feet without any blood on their faces so he must have bathed them.
I listen to the way this violent man softens for my sister.
“You can’t be angry, but I got the little demon pets.”
He must have it on loudspeaker because her heavy sigh can be heard over the waves. “You are not giving her a pet. She doesn’t even clean her own room.”
“I know, but there’s four of them, so we can have one each and learn together.”
“Daigon,” she softly exclaims. “You are not bringing four dogs home or you’re sleeping in the barn with them.”
Kane hugs me closer as he places his hand over mine on my stomach. Pressing his lips to my cheek, he whispers, “You did it, pretty girl. You remembered everything. You’re so much stronger than them.”
I lay my head on his shoulder, knowing it’s not the end. Their entire network of perversion needs to die, which isn’t a decision I can make alone when Ruby and Scarlet’s lives will be affected too. But I don’t want any more risks or fighting for my life while being sick to my stomach.
“I want Paris,” I whisper up at him.
“The city?”
“Yeah. I want the photos to be true. Me and you in Paris.”
He takes a deep breath, shifting in his seat as he avoids my eyes. When he looks back at me, there’s a strange look in his eye like he’s purposefully shutting me out. “You can have Paris. I’ll pay for you to go or live there.”
“But…” I twist so we’re face to face.
“But,” he says slowly, dragging in another deep breath, “I can’t be there with you.”
I’m going to throw him overboard.
“I’ll let you go. Have your own life.” He brushes my hair out of my face as the sea sprays up, soaking my shoulder. “That’s what’s supposed to happen now as proof I care about you. I’m sorry for everything I did.”
“So you’ve been lying to me?” I snap, incapable of removing the anger out of my voice when it’s taking everything in me not to beat the shit out of him. “You’ve done all of this for what? So we end up alone?”
The asshole starts laughing. There’s more light in his eyes as he pulls me back into his chest, kissing the top of my head. “You’re so gullible, pretty girl. Do you really think I’d ever let you go?”
“Asshole,” I mutter, nipping his side.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Delilah,” he whispers into my ear. “All of them combined wouldn’t be as stupid as allowing you to leave me. So you want Paris. We’ll go, do cheesy shit. I’ll propose to you in front of everyone, we’ll put a lock on a bridge, whatever you want is yours. I am yours.”
“Who said I forgave you?” I turn it on him as I look up to see the flames in the distance. The boy I fell in love with as a little girl is slowly coming back as he pulls my hood closer to my neck to stop me getting cold.
“I’ve already given my left arm to get you back, but none of it was to earn your forgiveness,” he says deeply against my lips. “Hate me, love me, fight me. You’ll be doing it all as my wife. The only way I can repay taking you from your life is by giving you more than I took, so you’re fucking stuck with me.”
