“Well.” Graham paused. “Seeing your face probably brought him peace.”
“I wish it didn’t,” I said, my muscles stiffening. “He had no remorse for any of them—I could feel it.”
“Max, I’m sorry.”
“I had to know. I mean, I knew there was something wrong with him to want to hurt those women, something more than the curse. But the evil I felt inside of him, the need to kill, it was still there. So, I guess part of me is glad I did what I did.”
“Don’t say that. You’re too good for that.” Graham pulled me in and kissed my forehead.
“Am I, though? What about all the people who’ve lost their lives because of me?”
“Look at me.” He stepped back. “You’re not a murderer.”
“No, but I’m still a predator. I still hurt people. People I can’t apologize to. People I can’t break this curse for.”
“Stop talking.” Graham’s brow pulled tight. “We are going to find a way… and don’t you fucking tell me that there isn’t one. Because there has to be.” He let out a breath then hefted Hunter over his shoulder. “I don’t care if we have to fly to Bermuda and swim to the bottom of the sea to find some obscure relic that only Indiana Jones could, we will break it.”
I sat in silence, staring at my blood-covered hands.
“Stay here. Or go in the cabin. Do not follow me.” He grabbed my chin and kissed me. “Do you understand me?”
I nodded.
He grabbed the shovel and headed deep into the woods behind his garage.
chapter 27
BLOOD & DIRT
Graham
When I returned,Maggie waited at the edge of the woods. She was shaking like a fucking leaf. She just stood there, staring at the blood mixed with dirt on her hands again, just like in that fucking basement. Only this time, she was the reason the blood soaked her clothes.
I pulled her in, throwing the shovel down and wrapping my arms around her while she sobbed into my chest. I couldn’t stand seeing her like that. Broken to pieces.
“Come with me,” I said, my lips pressing against her forehead.
It was almost morning. The sun was just starting to crest over the horizon. I led her down the trail through the woods to the lake I shared with the sanctuary. I crouched down and motioned for her to follow me. I wrapped my hand around her wrist and lowered her trembling hands to the water. I dipped mine in and cupped water onto hers, scrubbing my thumb over the dirt, removing the evidence of what we’d just done.
“Graham.” She looked up at me, trying to hide behind the tearswelling in her eyes. The sunrise bathed her in an amber glow. “I’m so sorry I got you involved in all this.”
I locked eyes with her and cupped her face, using my thumbs to wipe away her tears. “No. You didn’t do this.”
“Yes, I did. If I didn’t curse him, you’d never have?—”
I snapped my hand over her mouth. “I said no. I would do it over a million times again, if it meant I had a chance to love you.”
Then she closed her eyes, and the tears she was holding back finally fell down her pink cheeks. I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t watch her fall apart, so I did the only thing I could think of that would distract both of us.
I stood and pulled her up with me as I rose to my feet, arms wrapped around her, cradling her head, holding her tight, letting her know I wasn’t going anywhere. I kissed her as hard as I could without hurting her.
She kissed me back just as hard, and we fell into each other, trying to prove to one another just how much we needed the other.
I backed her up against a tree and palmed her ass, setting her down. She stared into my eyes as I slid my thumb over her bottom lip and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips again.
“Tell me who you belong to.” One hand found her throat where I held her to center her. The other slipped into her leggings, past her panties, and straight to her clit.
The gasp she let out sent a very obvious rush to my dick.
