159. Sterling
Chapter 159
Sterling
I gently tug her braids, tilting her head back just a little more, needing to see her neck. Needing it exposed to me as I tell her this.
Needing her to trust me.
Like I should have trusted her.
I still won’t tell her the full truth. But with distance… I realized distance is the last thing I wanted.
“I’m not a violent man,” I tell her.
My hands around Creep’s fingers, crushing them.
“I need you to know you’re safe with me,” I ask of her.
Creep landing face-first on her steps as I drag him into the dirt.
“I need you to not be afraid of me,” I beg of her.
The pop of bone as I break Creep’s joints.
Her shoulders relax even as she clings to me. “I’m not afraid of you, Sterling.”
I let her braids slide through my fingers as I drag my hands down their length.
“Tell me what happened.” Her hands move to the sides of my neck, holding me.
I fill my lungs.