Chapter 51 #2
With Lexi safely beside me, I stared into her blue eyes, getting lost like an abandoned ship at sea. Except, I wasn’t lost or abandoned anymore. She was the lighthouse that pulled me out of the treacherous course I’d been drifting on for the last few years and back to safety, back to her.
I was finally home again.
Lexi curled against me, her head resting on the right side of my chest, sleeping soundlessly in my arms. The faint beeping of the heart monitor didn’t annoy me as much when her steady breaths accompanied it.
A few days had passed since I killed my stepfather.
Arcane did a good cover job, constructing a story that Stan had a secret drug addiction and the wrong people found out.
They wanted to blackmail him, and he refused.
As the dutiful son, I’d gone to help, but the would-be extortionists shot us and fled the scene.
I came out as a fucking hero while Stan got a tiny black mark on his otherwise pristine reputation. I’d rather the world know what a sick bastard he was, but I wasn’t willing to pay the price.
There was still time to unveil the monster. Just because he was dead didn’t mean he was safe from the truth. It would come out eventually.
I’d make sure of it.
With the help of Gage, Slate, Axel—and a reluctant Bass—Micah’s name was cleared with the Serpents & Daggers. Bass convinced them his disappearance was all a misunderstanding and the Grand Domnus had sent him away on a secret task.
Unfortunately, that meant Micah had to stick around. By returning, he’d earned himself a permanent spot in the brotherhood.
The fucker would become a Lord.
Micah had to give Torri’s video over to Arcane, along with any copies—they’d murder him if they found out he kept any—but Gage still had the video evidence of Bass bringing Lexi and Cordi into the catacombs.
If Gage passed that evidence to the Ascended, they’d order Bass’s death or, at the very least, they’d put him on probation and strip him of every privilege afforded to a Lord.
My stepbrother would rather be dead than have all his power taken away.
So Bass kept his mouth shut about everything, including Stan’s death. Part of me believed he didn’t really care about his father's demise. You needed a soul to care, and my stepbrother didn’t have much of one.
The brotherhood probably suspected there was foul play surrounding Stan’s death, but no one seemed too keen on investigating it.
Maybe they all knew—at least the Inner Circle—how demented Stanford Davenport really was, and poking into our story would only result in opening a can of worms they didn’t want to unleash.
“I’m so glad you found each other again.” My mom sat in a chair on the left side of the bed, her green eyes bloodshot and tired. She’d been crying for days after losing her husband and almost her son.
I really could have died. If the bullet had been a few millimeters lower, it would have pierced my heart.
Daphne Davenport inherited a shitload of money that no one could ever take away. It was blood money, but I didn’t give a damn. She was set for the rest of her life, and Stan could never ruin her.
She tucked a lock of ebony hair behind her ear, giving a watery smile. “When you were kids, I always thought you’d get married.”
“I am going to marry her.”
“Killian!” My mother’s hand rested over her heart, laughing for the first time in days. “Don’t play with me like that.”
I ran my fingers over Red’s arm. “I’m serious, but don’t start planning the wedding. We’re still in school, and my girl wants to be a doctor. She’ll have a few more years to go.”
My mom scoffed. “She can be married and go to med school.”
“We’ll see, Mom.” I was glad I could bring her some happiness.
I hated that she mourned such a bastard, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth yet. Her believing Stan had a drug problem already did a number on her.
She stood and kissed my forehead. “I’m going to get a snack. Do you need anything?”
“Nah. I've got everything I need right here.” I jerked my chin toward the girl in my arms.
My mom brushed the hair back from my face. “Such a romantic.”
After she vanished out the door, I gently nudged Lexi. “You can quit pretending to be asleep now.”
Those blue angel eyes opened as a slow grin pulled at her mouth. “How did you know?”
“You’re a terrible liar.” I tapped her nose. “Plus, when I mentioned marriage, your heart went into overdrive.”
An adorable blush coated her cheeks. “Who said I’d marry you, Kill?”
I scoffed. “You’re mine, Lexi Vega. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you before it sticks.”
“I guess I need more convincing.” She propped herself up on her elbow, her auburn locks tousled as if we’d just finished fucking.
Blood rushed to my dick, and the need to flip her onto her back and bury myself inside her burned through my veins. If my mother wasn’t just outside, I’d do it. Fuck the pain.
My fingers gripped the back of her neck, and I jerked her to me, our mouths crashing together. The kiss had the heart monitor going crazy, my tongue tangling with hers like there was no tomorrow.
For us, there almost wasn’t.
But I’d survived death, and this angel decided I was worth keeping, darkness and all.
I sure as fuck wasn’t letting her go.