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“We need to go. Make sure nothing happens to her or I’ll fucking kill you myself,” I warn, barely able to look at him. He looks like he’s aged about ten years in the past half hour, not surprising given what his actions set in motion all those years ago.
“I’ll hand you the gun myself,” he tells me, and I know he means it. Our little bird has another monster in her corner, whether or not he’s deserving of her love.
I feel like I’m in the latter category, undeserving of her after tonight. I give him a sharp nod, then turn to face Jude and Tarl, who are both standing and giving me the stink eye. Again, not underserved.
“Let’s go wait out front,” I order, not waiting to see if they follow me out. I can’t take a full breath, my mind already trying to find a way out of this mess. A way back into her heart. Because I am fucking nothing without her, not having her love is not an option.
“Give her time to cool off,” Tarl advises as we reach the truck, the chill, early evening air allowing me a full breath after what feels like an eternity of shallow ones. My chest still hurts though.
“And then apologize on your fucking knees, dickhead,” Jude says on my other side, his lips drawn down in a frown.
I don’t need the lecture; I’d walk over hot coals and broken glass if it’s what she demanded. She deserves so much more than what she’s had so far in her shitty life, and if it takes the rest of my days, I’m going to prove that to her. Even if it’s on my knees. I may have vowed to kneel for no man, but I’ll prostrate myself at her feet if that’s what makes her happy.
Lark
“Don’t Want To Be Alone” by Abe Parker
Knox shows me up the grand, carpeted stairway and down a luxurious hall lined with so many carved, wooden doors that I lose count, but I barely see the beauty that surrounds us, hardly feel the plush carpet underneath my boots. My soul is hurting from what happened downstairs with Aeron and his father. It’s as though a scab has been ripped off before the cut was fully healed. I feel exposed and raw, needing to curl in on myself and lick my wounds.
“Here we are, Little Bird,” Knox informs me softly, and I blink, coming out of a daze and looking around me at the bedroom that he’s led us into.
The walls are a deep forest green, the king bed made up in the same color sheets, and the space is vast. The entire room smells of cloves and motor oil, and there are bits and pieces of what looks like car parts mounted on the walls.
“Is this your room?” I ask, glancing up at Knox who’s looking a little sheepish, a slight blush on his cheeks.
“Yeah, I thought that you’d prefer to stay here rather than in one of the guest rooms?” he says, the last part a question. He looks so unsure, his arm dropping from my shoulders as he rubs the back of his neck.
“It’s perfect,” I assure him, stepping back into his body and resting my cheek on his hard chest. His heart thuds under my ear and I find my arms wrapping tightly around him as tears fill my eyes. “I wish you could stay.” The words hurt when they push past the lump in my throat as I try to hold the tears back; I’m just so fucking sick of crying. His arms band around me, pulling me in so close that no part of us isn’t touching.
“Fuck, princess. So do I,” he murmurs against my hair, his tone gruff. “I fucking hate leaving you like this.”
“Then stay,” I reply quietly, my words a plea as I grab the back of his jumper and fist it in my hands. He heaves a sigh and my stomach sinks.
“I can’t, Little Bird. Fuck, I’m going to fucking kill Aeron.”
Useless moisture spills down my cheeks at his words.
“He was angry, I get that. I–I think…” I swallow hard, taking a deep breath and letting it go through my mouth. “I think killing my mom really fucked him up. Especially knowing what happened to me afterwards.”
“You are too fucking good for us, you know that?” he states after a long moment, pulling me impossibly closer as he places a gentle kiss on top of my head. “You’ve had the roughest ride of us all, and yet you’re able to see the hurt in others who have harmed you. Shit, Little Bird. We don’t deserve you.” He pulls away, just enough to tip my chin upwards with one hand, the other arm still wrapped tightly around my back. “But I’m keeping you anyway, soulmate.”
My breath shudders out of me against his lips as he closes the distance between us, kissing me so tenderly that I can taste the salt of my tears as they fall. All too soon he ends the kiss, and I blink my eyes open to see his face creased in torment.
“I love you, Knox,” I tell him, needing to see him smile, just once before he goes.
“I love you, Lark,” he answers, his voice deep, and the way he says my name—something that they all rarely do—has shivers skating across my skin. “I have to go,” he whispers, not stepping away. “But I’ll be back in a couple of hours max, and then I’ll hold you for the rest of the night.”
“I’d like that,” I reply, being the brave one and dropping my arms, taking a step out of his warm embrace. Even though the room is heated, I’m suddenly chilled to the bone, and I wrap my arms around myself to stop the shivers that want to take over.
His shoulders rise and fall with another huge inhale. “Rook should be back soon, and Adam is here with you. There’s security patrolling the grounds with dogs. No one is getting in, you’re safe here, okay?” I give him a nod and he stands there, his jaw working and his forehead creased.
“Stay safe yourselves, okay? Even Aeron,” I command softly, and one side of his lips tugs up into that sexy half-smile of his.
“He may accidentally take a small fall into my fists, but don’t worry, princess, it’s an easy job tonight. No one will get hurt.” He takes a step as if to kiss me again, then clearly decides that if he does, he’s never leaving, so just turns around and leaves.
I look around the space after he closes the door, just breathing in everything that is Knox as I take in what is clearly his childhood home. Or well, some of his childhood anyway. I know he said I had the roughest start of all of us, but after hearing him briefly hint about his life before Adam took him in, and knowing what Tarl went through with the death of his family, plus Aeron and Jude losing their sister and mother, I think we’re all a little fucked up.
I jump in surprise at the sound of a soft knock at the door.
