AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m left with shock and uncertainty as he swiftly pulls away and leaves me alone on the bed, slamming the bathroom door behind him.
DECLAN
Imust be fucked in the head, but then again, I always have been. The back of my eyes sting as I grip the edge of the cheap pedestal sink in this shithole. The mirror is cracked and the silvering peeling off in one corner and my vision moves from it to my reflection as I do everything I can to just breathe.
Everything fucking hurts. Every piece of me is sickened and numbed from years of this fucked-up life.
She wants me to kill her while she sleeps.While she holds on to me, and falls asleep in my arms, she thinks I could do such a thing. I fucking love her. I love her more than I ever thought I could.
All I see when I look at Braelynn is someone I want to protect. Someone I would burn the world to the ground for. How can she not see that? Am I truly such a monster she’d rather die? My hand shakes as I reach for my phone while it buzzes in my back pocket.
All she had to do, was stay with me … but I should have known better. She is sweet and naïve, she’s curious and reckless … but how could a woman like her ever want to stay with me?
The screen lights up the bathroom as a storm brews outside. The small paned window in the cramped bathroom is cracked and a brisk breeze blows in. My entire body feels as if it’s on fire one minute, then chilled the next.
Are you with her?Carter texts and my throat closes.
I’ve never felt such shame. My shoulders heave forward and it takes every ounce of control in me not so smash my fist into the mirror, shattering the glass.
This pain is something I’ve never felt. With my eyes closed and my breathing coming in ragged I try to hold it all back. To shove it all down.
I don’t want any of this to be real anymore. I just want to go back. To rewind it all.
If ever there was a God who would listen to my pleas, I beg him now, please stop this. Hell, I’d sell my soul to the devil himself to make it stop. To make her happy and safe. Even if it means a life without me.
I’d rather die than for her to think I’d ever hurt her.
Crash!Bang! “Hands where we can see them!” Shock rips through me at the sound of the door to this shit motel room being kicked in. It’s nearly surreal as I walk out, the bathroom door creaking open in complete opposition to the screaming and chaos.
“Freeze!”
“Get on the floor, get on the floor!”
“Declan Cross, come out with your hands up!”
“Hands behind your back!” The moment they see me, orders are made. My response is nearly automatic. I’ve been arrested more times than I can count, let alone remember.
“On what grounds?” My tone is flat as I focus on Braelynn, still under the covers, her eyes wide with new fear.
“It’s okay,” I try to tell her but an officer speaks over me. I don’t recognize any of these men. All decked out in tactical gear,there are six of them to just the two of us. A chill runs down my spine.
“You’re wanted in the questioning of Scarlet Miller’s murder.” The blood drains from my face at the mention of her name. But I’ve been through this shit before. This is a game I can play. “Don’t say anything, Braelynn. Don’t consent to a search. Don’t talk to anyone other than to tell them you want your lawyer.”
Deep voices cry out and guns are held by men in uniform, pointing not just at me, but at Braelynn. Anger tears through the denial, through the shame. Through fucking everything.
“Leave her alone!” With both hands in the air, I scream to Braelynn that it’s okay. Her hair is disheveled, her eyes red rimmed. My heart only beats again when she looks at me. It beats as if it’s the last time blood will flow through my veins. It all happens too fast once I register what she’s going to do. I can’t stop it.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers before ignoring their warnings and running to the window. She’s reckless, my naïve girl.No, no, don’t jump. Please, save her.My motions aren’t fast enough, and I can’t rip my arms from their grasp.
“Braelynn, no!”
