Page 32 of Dread’s Beloved

“Babe.” I crouch in front of her. “Get off the floor.”

“I want to go home.”

“I know you do. Fuck, I do, too.”

“So, let’s go.”

“You know I can’t take you back until this asshole is caught.”

“I can’t stay here. I ruin everything and everyone I touch.”

“That’s not true.”

“I should give myself to the RFR. Then everyone can live their lives without worrying about me or looking over their shoulder.”

“You think that would solve anything? We’ll be at war with them until we kill them all or they kill us. There will always be a reason for them to come after us or for us to go after them. It’s the name of the game.”

She sniffles and pushes up off the floor. “This floor is really gross.”

“Yeah, why don’t you take a shower and then we’ll get some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll see what I can do about us moving locations.”

“Will you stay? I just don’t think I can be alone right now.”

“Anything you need.”

“I’m sorry for earlier.”

“Me too.” I turn my back on her once the shower starts. I close my eyes to keep from seeing her reflection in the mirror.

“Can you hand me my travel kit?”

“Sure.” I bend down, keeping my gaze on the floor, and dig out her toiletry bag. I extend it toward the shower and wait for her to grab it.

“I don’t care if you look.”

“You should care.”

“Why? I could be dead any day now.”

“Don’t say shit like that.”

“I’m fucked up.”

“I know.”

“Why did this happen to me?”

“Some men just have evil inside them, and when they find any light, they want to snuff it out. He’s not going to get near you.”

She doesn’t respond, and I let the conversation hang there until she decides to pick it back up. Kitty stays quiet, and I know I need to get her out of her head, away from all the dark thoughts threatening to drown her. I’ve been down that road. Desperate to kill emotions that wouldn’t die. I won’t let her walk that path alone.

“He doesn’t get to win, babe. He’s not going to take everything from you. If I have to put a bullet or ten in him. I will, and so will every other man with our patch on his back.”

I hold up a towel for her and wrap it around her as she steps out of the shower. She goes through the motions of getting dressed and brushing her teeth, and I brush her hair and squeeze the water out before wrapping another towel around her head.

“Get some rest. We’ll figure out our next steps in the morning with clear heads, yeah?”

She nods and I usher her into the bed like I would a child, tucking the covers tight around her.