Page 107 of My Undead Love Life

Victoria laughed. It was a horrible sound. “You expect her to believe that? You murdered your father, and now you’re pretending you were some kind of savior?”

“I killed him,” Oxi admitted. “But I only ever wanted to save her from the pain I experienced.”

Olivia started shivering violently.

“Guys,” Luck said under his breath. “We don’t have time for this.”

“I’m cold,” Olivia whispered. “So cold.” Her lips were losing color, and her entire body trembled violently.

I stepped forward without thinking. “She’s turning.”

“No!” Victoria snapped, pulling her closer. “There’s still time.”

“There isn’t much,” Mad said firmly.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

The wind outside howled louder, rattling the building. Snow slammed against the windows in sharp bursts. The storm was coming back, and we didn’t need to be locked in here with them when it did.

“We’re leaving,” Mad decided.

Oxi didn’t move. “I can’t leave her.”

“We don’t need you!” Victoria snapped.

Something in me broke at the way Oxi’s expression crumpled again.

“Enough,” I said sharply, stepping forward and grabbing Oxi’s hand.

Her sharp gaze turned to me.

“You don’t get to do this to him,” I yelled. “You don’t get to twist what he did into something it’s not.”

“Who the hell are you?” Victoria demanded.

“I’m his girlfriend,” I stated as Oxi’s hand tightened around mine. “He tried to protect his sister. You failed him. You failed both of them. You don’t get to paint him as the bad guy anymore. The truth is out, Victoria.”

Her face flushed with rage. “He’s a murderer!”

“You’re not a mother,” I continued, thinking of my own mother. My mom would have burned the world down before letting anyone hurt me or Tori. She would have run through fire. She would never have stood there and defended a monster because admitting the truth hurt her pride. “You’re a monster,” I told her.

Oxi stared at me in shock.

Victoria shut her mouth.

Olivia reached for him weakly. “Owen…”

I let go of his hand, and he dropped to his knees in front of her instantly. “I’m here,” he said, gripping her hand carefully.

“I believe you,” she whispered, eyes pouring with tears. “I’m sorry I spent these years hating you. I always knew something was wrong. I just couldn’t remember. But I remember now, and I remember…what he used to do to you. And Mom.”

“I’m sorry,” he choked. “I shouldn’t have left when the outbreak started.”

“You did the right thing.” Her gaze drifted behind him, landing on me, Mad, and Luck. “You have a real family now.”

Oxi made a broken sound.