Adrian stands slowly, humming under his breath. “Hmm, I don’t think I will.”
My breathing turns uneven. My voice drops to barely above a whisper as I look up at him. “Take it out on me.” I force the words out, my choice solid. I’d rather break than watch Adrian destroy someone I love.
The smile that spreads across his face makes me sick.
“Elijah,” his voice softens. “I knew you would choose that.”
Fear crawls up my spine. “Your heart is so soft.”
I lift my head. Defiance cuts through the terror. “You don’t own me.”
Adrian laughs. “You’re still saying that?”
“I mean it. I will never pick you again.”
The smile fades slightly. “You will always belong to me.”
“No, I don’t!” I scream.
He walks toward me slowly and crouches right in front of me. Madness shines in his eyes. “The boy dies.”
Everything stops. I freeze.
“Or…” He tilts his head. “You come back.” He glances sideways at Finn. “Willingly.”
My eyes fly to Finn. He’s still unmoving. The man who protected me, Deck’s little one, my brother. Tears sting my eyes.
CJ. God. CJ, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.
There was never a choice. Not for me. Not for Finn. And Adrian knows it. He always has.
“I’m waiting, sweetheart.”
I look at Finn one more time, then close my eyes. For one second, I let myself imagine CJ’s arms around me, and the memory steadies me. If this is the last time I ever feel him, I want to hold onto it. I cling to those memories because they’re the only thing that will carry me through whatever comes next.
Maybe I’ll never see CJ again. Never feel his arms around me. Never hear him call meBaby Boy. Never get to tell him what he means to me.
But he will always be with me. He owns my heart. My soul. The parts of me that still matter.
Adrian can take my freedom. My choices. My body.
But he will never take CJ from me. Never the love I have for him.
So I open my eyes and nod.
“I’ll go.”
Adrian smiles. He thinks he’s won. But he’s wrong. I’m not surrendering; I’m sacrificing. I’m saving Finn, even if it means I may never go home.
“I’ll go. Just leave Finn alone.”
I stare at Finn’s chest, watching the slow, faint rise and fall, silently begging him to survive this.For Deck. For CJ. For me.
* * *
I walk upstairs with Adrian. The basement door slams shut behind me, sealing Finn in the dark. I try not to fall apart, trying to hold myself together while knowing I may never get to say goodbye to the man who loves me.
Adrian stops beside the couch. I stand there, staring at him.
