Page 118 of Haven

“Are you fucking stupid?” I bellowed. “You’re not thinkin’ straight because all you’re focused on is Rory.”

Vesper’s dark eyes shot a dangerous look my way, but before she could say anything, the pesky Devil hissed, drawing her attention back. “Hey!” Haven shouted. “Stop. Arguing won’t help. Vesper, if you want to do something, we need to work together. Runnin’ around half-cocked will do nothin’ but get someone killed.” At least we could agree on something.

“You can’t go doin’ your own shit because you are in love. Rory will kick your ass, and I am not losing you, too,” I gritted out. Feelings weren’t my forte for obvious reasons, but I loved the Vipers. They were my sisters and siblings, and one thing about me was I always fought for my family, even if they pissed me off.

“Nothing is goin’ to happen to me,” Vesper confessed, her voice calmer than prior. “I won’t let him get an upper hand, but I can’t let him keep hurtin’ her.”

I ran my hand down my face. She was right, but there were other ways for us to do this. “We can figure this out together. Don’t do something stupid, Vesper.”

“I make no promises,” she retorted with a smirk.

She said goodbye to Haven before disconnecting and leaving my office. She would lay up with Rory while I would be in here trying to uncover who the fuck was trying to hurt her. There was too much going on, and I needed to focus.

Fuck.

There was a knock on my door before someone pushed it open. “Can we talk and you not treat me like a child?” Rory asked as she rested her shoulder against my doorframe. I nodded my head, and she closed the door. “Vesper gave in, why aren't you? I love you, and I know you love me too.”

“I’m not good for you, Rory.”

She laughed bitterly. “Good for me? Widow, nothing in life is good for us, but it doesn’t stop us from doing it.”

“Rory—”

“Why did you do it?” she asked, and I sighed. I couldn’t look at her. I knew she was referring to the night I broke her heart.

“Hurting you was the only way to keep my family. I love you Rory, I do, but I am not the woman you need. I wasn’t good for you then and I’m not good for you now. I drain the life out of everything I touch.”

My gaze darted back up just in time to see her cross her arms over her chest with a frown. “I didn’t care, Widow. God, you’re so dense! I loved you because you saw me as more than Cinder’s broken little sister. I never had to walk on eggshells with you. You saw me. You could have murdered the president and I’d give you an alibi. All I wanted was you. We could've worried about the details later.”

“Cinder—”

“It doesn’t matter anymore!” Rory screamed, tears starting to stream down her face. “Goddamnit. She’s gone. My sister is…fuck, I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. I just wanted you, Widow. That’s all I wanted, but you chose Cinder instead.”

She wiped the tears away from her face. “Rory⁠—”

“No. I didn’t want to yell at you, but you proved to me everything I needed to know. I have Hades and I have Vesper. I just...I wanted you, too.” She walked to the door and looked back at me. “I won’t wait for you forever.”

And then she was gone.

I grabbed the cup of pens on my desk and slung it across the room. Fuck. “Goddamnit Cinder, why the fuck did you have to get taken?”

Caving would be easy, but I would be betraying my best friend. Rory didn’t deserve me, not after I hurt her. I could have chosen her years ago, but I didn’t, and that was on me. Now I wouldn’t have her at all, but that was how things had to be.

Ninety-Seven

Rory

Ipulled my legs to my chest, listening to the faint noise of Jude’s footsteps upstairs. He was in the kitchen, which could be good or bad. He could be bringing me food or he could be heating knives and other metal items to burn me with. Panicking would cause more pain, but I wanted it to end. Why couldn’t he kill me instead of playing with me?

The door creaked open, and I tucked my head between my legs. The footsteps were deafening yet painfully loud as he got closer. The touch made me jump, but the skin wasn’t calloused or rough. I looked up and saw a…boy? He was my age, but he looked like Jude.

“W-who a-are y-y-you?”

“I’m yours, princess. I’m Kace. Daddy said I could finally meet you.”

He caressed my leg. “D-don’t touch me, please.”

“It’s okay. I can help take the pain away.” His hand touched my cheek and wiped the tears away. “I’m sorry Daddy is hurting you. Maybe I can help?”