CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
AURYN
I knew that motherfucker was going to be trouble. Since he confronted me on my first day, I’d been keeping an eye on him. Especially once I noticed the way he was eyeing Ripley.
Now he was dead. It was either him or me, and I had no intention of going out like that.
I’d done my best to kill him in a way that would make it hard to trace.
A simple smothering without leaving any obvious marks or bruises.
At first it wouldn’t be obvious how he’d died.
By the time they figured it out and locked this place down, I planned to be out of here.
Ripley began shaking, her entire body vibrating. This was her first real glimpse of my life. The dark parts she’d always feared. The very thing she’d once warned her friends about. Now she’d seen it for herself.
I guided her along to the elevator, taking her up to the third floor. Holding tight to her hand, I brought her to her room, releasing the breath I held once we were safely inside. I sat her down on the edge of the bed, tilting her chin up so I could stare into her eyes.
“Deep breaths, Ripley,” I said. I’d never had to talk anyone down from a panic attack before. “You need to take a few deep breaths. Calm down for me, baby girl. Everything is all right. He can’t hurt you now.”
“You killed him,” she gasped out between ragged breaths. “He’s really dead. And I was a witness. Holy shit. What do we do now. Are we going to go to jail?”
She continued to ramble on frantically despite my efforts to calm her. Finally, I pulled her into the bathroom and made her splash cold water on her face. It helped snap her out of it, making her suck in a sharp breath.
“Nobody is going to jail. There were no witnesses. No cameras. And no evidence.” Holding Ripley by both shoulders, I turned her to face me.
“Listen to me. He was a piece of shit who was going to hurt you. He got what he deserved. People like that don’t deserve second chances.
You are going to calm down. Finish what you came here for.
Then you and me are leaving, and we’re going to get on with our lives together. Understand?”
A stray tear rolled down Ripley’s face, making me feel like shit for killing a man in front of her. He hadn’t left me any other choice. I knew this part of my lifestyle made her uneasy. All I could do was hope that she found a way to cope. I couldn’t bear to lose her now.
Finally, she nodded, wiping her tear away. “I understand. You were protecting me. I know that. I just can’t believe that happened.”
“I know. But it’s over now. Wipe those tears away so we can go down to the entertainment room.” The camera placement in this facility consisted of entry points, common rooms, and the elevators. There should be no evidence of us entering or leaving the chapel.
I’d been doing this long enough that I wasn’t worried about getting caught. At first glance, it would look like he’d simply collapsed and died. They may not even figure out it had been murder. If they did, they would never know it was me.
My biggest concern was Ripley. Helping her hold it together so she didn’t give us away. Getting her involved had never been my intent. Unfortunately, there was no guarantee that something like this would never happen again.
Maybe she would be better off without me. I was far too invested in this now to let her go. The selfish part of me refused to give up now that I’d fallen in love. I didn’t want anyone else. I didn’t want to see what else life would bring my way. I only wanted Ripley.
“I’m not sure I’m strong enough for this, Auryn,” Ripley said sadly. “Look at you. You’re completely fine, and you just killed a man. I’m ready to meltdown and lose my mind. What if I say or do the wrong thing? What if I slip up and someone finds out? I’m not cut out for this.”
Resting my forehead against hers, I took a deep, slow breath, waiting for her to follow my lead. After a few breaths, I spoke, keeping my voice low and gentle.
“You really have no idea how strong you are. Look at everything you’ve survived.
You practically had to raise yourself. Even when things got rough, you still held it together.
You showed up for classes. You held down a job.
And look at you here now getting the help you need to keep going.
Ripley, I have never known anyone as strong as you. ”
I paused, giving her a moment to consider my words. Needing to feel her, I pressed my lips to hers in a tender kiss.
“You need to embrace your power,” I continued.
“To look yourself in the eye every day and know what a badass you are. You’ve taken everything life has thrown at you and somehow made it work.
There’s no stopping now. You have everything inside you that you need to overcome whatever comes your way.
Believe it. I do. I’ve never been so in awe of anyone. ”
Again her eyes filled with tears. “Aww, Auryn. Has anyone ever told you how special you are? I don’t know why you work so hard to hide this side of yourself from the world. Deep down you’re a total softy. You’re also a really good man. I love you.”
I grinned, her words striking a sensitive part of me I was still learning how to accept.
“It’s all because of you, doll. You’re the one that broke through the bullshit and showed me how much more I could have if I opened up.
I’m ridiculously, obsessively in love with you, Ripley. I want to do this life with you.”
She captured my hand in hers, squeezing tight. “Me too.”
We shared a kiss that held pure emotion. Something I’d never felt before her. Something that only she awakened inside me. I pulled her into a hug, loving the way she felt in my arms. Her warmth against me. Her soft sighs. I never wanted to let go.
Knowing that we needed to be seen in one of the common areas before the body was discovered, I encouraged Ripley to wash her face before we returned downstairs.
I couldn’t wait to get out of this place.