Page 179 of Sinful Lord

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The next few weeks are long and grueling, but every second is made more than bearable by Melina’s constant companionship. In essence, she becomes my bodyguard, silently fighting battles with her still uncertain family.

Hell, I don’t blame them, but it’s not like I have the energy to convince them of my intentions. For almost a month, all I have the strength to do is eat, sleep… and fuck.

It’s impossible to keep my hands off Melina. And she barely has any restraint when it comes to staying off me. To my surprise, she actually seems to like the idea of sneaking a quickie in here and there. When I ask her why, she just shrugs and says she figures it feels like she’s making up for lost time.

Growing up, she never got a chance to sneak boys in, and now she’s got a live-in fuck toy all to herself.

I don’t complain. I just give her want she wants, over and over again…

Then, one day, I find myself up and about. When that happens, the Kilpatrick’s don’t let me stick around for much longer, but Gabriel and Roz hook me up with a full floor condo near their homes.

I appreciate the gesture, but as soon as I get a chance to move around some money and access my old bank accounts, I buy a big house down the block from Gabriel, and not just because Melina is always over and she deserves a big place after all of the captivity she’s experienced.

It's also because I finally have family to entertain again.

At first, it’s just Gabriel and Roz. But slowly, Gabriel is able to convince his wife, Bianca, to let him bring the kids around.

Two nephews. Shit. That’s two more than I ever thought I’d have. But I also never figured I’d see the day when Roz got married. Yet her wedding is scheduled to happen two months from now.

The whole thing blows my fucking mind, so much so that I had to take a step back. This is all I ever really wanted, but to have it so suddenly is almost overwhelming.

So, I go back to my roots. I turn my back on this new life, but only until I’ve sorted out my past… and prepared it for destruction.

“This way,” I call to Melina.

A rattle comes from around the corner as she picks up one of the toys our nephews left over.

“Coming,” she calls back, after finding a drawer to temporarily stuff them in.

When she comes into view, I can’t help but smile. It happens every time. Fuck, she’s beautiful. And she’s all mine.

I just need to make that clear. Even if she already believes it.

My past is gone. All that exists is our future.

After all we’ve been through, after all she’s seen, there’s only one way to do that. I’m going to burn the worst parts of me right in front of her. Melt them into dust so that we can rise from the ashes together, hand in hand.

“In here,” I say, gesturing toward my new office. A little bundle of nerves tighten inside my gut as Melina follows me inside.

I’m still not sure if this is a good idea or not. Part of me just wants to leave the past in the past. But I know I can’t just ignore this forever. Melina needs to see a physical symbol of my commitment.

And I need to give that to her.

“What is it?” she asks, hand spreading across my back as she joins me in the doorway.

“Come, sit with me by the fireplace.”

Taking Melina by the wrist, I gently lead her to the giant opening at the far end of my office. I can feel her hesitate as she gets close enough to see what I’ve put inside.

“Is… is that a computer?” she asks, confused.

“It is. And a couple of hard drives.”

“Why are they in the fireplace?”

“We’re going to burn them.”