AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The tension that we'd been carrying seemed to dissolve, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment. Tonight, it was just about us - Sofia and Teo, not the daughter of the Everglades Viper or the Viper's trusted man.
"I wish I could. I need to, you know, do this. Get rid of my dad.”
I nodded, understanding what she meant. The reminder of her mission lodged a cold knot in my chest. We had precious little time left, and sooner or later, reality was going to swoop in and shatter this bubble we’d created.
"I know," I said, my voice barely audible over the sound of Sofia's steady breathing. "But until then, let's just…enjoy this." I ran my fingers through her hair, playing with the dark strands. I could feel her relax into the touch, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Yeah," she replied quietly, "I'd like that." And so we laid there in silence, basking in the warmth of each other’s presence. I held her close to me, finding comfort in her familiar scent, her soft skin against mine. Just for tonight, we allowed ourselves to forget about the danger lurking outside.
And as she drifted off to sleep, my arm around her, I realized I would do whatever it took to keep her alive. Even if it meant burning absolutely everything else down.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Sofia
Itook the hottest shower I could, then got dressed quickly. I left Teo sleeping in the bed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. My gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, the sight of his peaceful face a stark contrast against the tumultuous reality that awaited us.
I got dressed quickly. I left Teo sleeping in the bed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. My gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, the sight of his peaceful face a stark contrast against the tumultuous reality that awaited us.
In the kitchen, I found Grayson sitting at the counter, nursing a glass of whiskey. His eyes flicked up to me as I walked in. “I assume you’re leaving now?”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Where’s everyone else?”
“I don’t know,” he replied.
“Do you want some company?”
He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Why not?" he shrugged, pushing the glass of whiskey towards me as an invitation. I steeled myself and accepted the offer, grabbing another glass from a cabinet and pouring myself a modest helping of the fiery liquid.
I took a seat across from him, our gazes meeting over the flickering candlelight. We didn't need words to understand each other, our silence spoke volumes. After a moment, Grayson broke the silence. “How are you dealing with all of this?”
“I’m not. I’m going through the motions,” I said. “Until I deal with my father, I’m not going to deal with anything. Then I’m going to be in therapy for the rest of my life.”
Grayson chuckled, a dark sound echoing in the quiet kitchen. "I can recommend a few good therapists," he said, taking a sip from his glass.
I raised an eyebrow at him, swirling the amber liquid in my glass before taking a sip. "Experience speaking?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
He shrugged, nodding his head in silent agreement. His gaze was dark, the green in his eyes almost black under the dim lighting. The shadows on his face made him look older, more weathered and worn out.
"Yeah," he replied after a moment of contemplating his glass. "I've been seeing one for years. It’s been helpful.”
“I saw one for a bit after my parents died. Or, you know, after I thought they died. Seems like I’m going to need a very specialized one to deal with the fact that my dad is a monster.”
Grayson grunted in acknowledgement, his gaze never leaving the half-empty bottle. "Maybe we all do," he said, his voice barely a whisper. It wasn't just an admission of his own issues but an acknowledgment of all the damage that was done to us by my father.
The Viper's venom ran deep into our veins, poisoning our lives in ways we were only beginning to understand. Even Grayson, with all his strength and confidence, wasn't immune to it. Somehow this realization made me feel less alone in my struggle.
Our eyes met again. “I’m sorry I worried you.”
He shook his head, taking my hand in his. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
"I'm not your responsibility," I said. The words hung heavy in the air between us, echoing around the dimly lit kitchen.
"I know," he replied quietly, squeezing my hand gently before letting go. "But that doesn't mean I don't worry about you."
I pressed a kiss against his cheek. “I’m going to, you know, deal with him," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I was talking about my father, the Viper, the man we once thought was dead but who had come back to haunt our lives.
Grayson nodded, his gaze falling back to the half-emptied bottle on the counter. "And we'll be there with you," he replied just as quietly, looking up at me with all seriousness. His words were more than just a promise - they were a pact, an unspoken agreement amongst us all to stand together against the Viper.
"Thank you," I said, squeezing his hand one more time before letting go and picking up my glass. I took a long sip, feeling the whiskey burn down my throat and warm my insides. It was comforting in a way, a physical jolt that momentarily distracted from the storm of emotions brewing inside. “Where’s Sam? I need to talk to my brother.”
