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A warm hand laces with mine. I glance over at her; there are tears sliding down her face, and she has an awkward smile on her lips.

“You don’t have to be sorry. I deserved it. I should’ve told you everything sooner. I was just scared of losing you.”

Her head shakes. “No. You never deserved my words.”

My chest squeezes painfully.

“I can’t say I forgive you,” she starts, closing her eyes and blowing out a breath. “But I want to give you another chance.”

I swear my fucking heart stops dead in my chest.

“What?”

“You’ve hurt me. But I can’t just let you go, Xander. I found something in you that I never found in anyone else… and I can’t just let that go.”

“I don’t fucking deserve you.”

She stands up, climbing over me. Any pain that I had is long forgotten as she straddles me, her green eyes searching my face with worry, her tears soaking into my clean t-shirt.

“No, I don’t deserve you,” she says as she brings her lips to mine in a ghost of a kiss. “I missed you so fucking much.” Her breath fans over my lips.

I think being knocked out by a dozen men was my wake-up call out of my rage-fuelled rampage.

Or maybe it truly is this Angel in front of me that somehow controls my very being when she’s near.

“I love you, Angel.”

Chapter 50

Camila - 1 week later

Xander healed well from his injuries. There are only a few cuts left on his face, but the doctor said they shouldn’t scar and that he’s lucky. He’s been on his best behaviour while we still attempt to track down Luke—who seems to have found a great hiding spot. But that feeling of rack and ruin gnaws at my gut with every day that passes.

Things have been normal between us. Or, as normal as they can be. Jacques refuses to allow Xander to be involved with any of their operations. He wants Xander's head to be straight. To which, surprisingly, Xander agreed.

My mornings now consist of breakfast and tea in bed while Xander sits in a chair in the corner of his room, sketching in his book. Most, if not all, of his drawings are of me.

Sid was returned home safe and sound by a very annoyed Axel, and Xander can’t hear the end of it from Ezra.

“Where are you taking me?” I giggle. Xander’s hand tentatively massages my jogger-clad leg while his right hand steers the wheel to the right, taking another turn. He hasn’t been able to keep his hands to himself. Not that I mind.

I like this version of Xander.

And I think he’s starting to as well. A part of me knows I’m his safety net.

But no matter how normal our lives feel, there’s still that storm brewing on the horizon, not allowing us to truly settle.

“You’ll see,” he grins. That dimple makes an appearance through his thicker than usual stubble, blue eyes sparkling in my direction.

“I thought we said no more secrets?” I press, my arms folding across my chest.

He huffs air out of his nose. “You’ll like this one.”

“I’m not going to come back to my apartment bulldozed, am I?”

He chuckles. “Well…”

Smacking him playfully on the arm, the car swerves to the side slightly as he flinches. “That’s not funny.” I keep my tone serious, but I can’t help the beaming smile on my face.