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“Ryden…” I started, but the words caught in my throat.
He finally turned back and gave me a small, rueful smile.
“Oh, Mason will be done soon.” We waited, just staring as the fire ate Mason away. It took a long time, but we just watched.
The silence was perfect. For now.
When it was done, Ryden moved with a practiced ease as he completed his ritual. Every movement was deliberate, methodical, until Mason’s remains were reduced to ash and locked away in a glass jar. He set it down, the soft clink of glass against metal echoing in the space that stretched between us.
I stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. His body tensed under my touch.
“Look at me, Ryden,” I said. “I don’t know how to love as you do. Fully, wholly,” I said, waving a hand vaguely at him and the space between us. “You’re so good at it. You love without hesitation, without restraint. I’ve never had a moment of doubt about your feelings for me. I knew, before you even told me you loved me.”
Ryden’s brow furrowed slightly.
“I know I’m not good at this. I don’t know how to let my guard down without fearing the consequences. But I love you, Ryden. I do. I always thought I’d be okay with dying. I told myself that once I caught the Strangler, it wouldn’t matter what happened to me. Because that was my whole purpose, my whole life. But now?” I took a shaky breath. “I want to live. Not just survive, not just endure—I want to live. With you. Won’t that be enough?”
His expression softened.
“I won’t leave you, Ryden,” I said. “You’re the home I’ve always been looking for, even when I didn’t know it. I don’t care what it takes. I’m fighting to stay.”
For a moment, he just stared at me before he leaned close and pressed his lips to my forehead.
“It’s enough. You’re more than enough.”
12
WHEN THE GARDENIAS BLOOM
RYDEN
It had been two days since Mason died. Everything was quiet in our lives. I didn’t trust the silence though. Silence was never just silence. It was always hiding bigger storms.
The elevator dinged, pulling me from my thoughts.
I walked into the office and looked around with a frown. Shayna, my photographer, looked up from the photos spread across the table.
“Hi, Shayna.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, boss. You look tired.”
I sighed. “It’s been a terrible few weeks. What are you up to?”
“Now that you’ve abandoned me…” she trailed off.
“I didn’t abandon you. Stop being so dramatic.”
“Thatcher wanted me to work with him. I’d rather perform brain surgery on myself with a spoon. Of course, I said no, but he was a stubborn asshole.” She gritted his teeth. “I had to beg Aaliyah to let me work with her on her new story.”
“Good. If Thatcher bullies you, call me.”
“Oh, I can handle him. Don’t you worry about me. How’s that gorgeous girlfriend of yours?”
“She’s perfect,” I said with a smile, and Shayna giggled.
“You’re so whipped, boss. But who wouldn’t be? Doctor West is amazing. I have no idea how she puts up with you.”
I gave her a dark look, and she made a zipping motion over her lips. Shaking my head, I moved toward Natalia’s office.
