Chapter 22 Mythic Grey
MYTHIC GREY
I LAY THERE holding Aviana close. Her head was resting on my chest. Her breath was soft and steady. She was sleeping hard, but I hadn’t been able to shut my eyes all night. Every time I closed them, I saw her fear, the pain, and the blood. And it was my fault.
My arms were wrapped around her, like if I let go for even a second, she’d slip away.
I held her tight, protecting her, keeping her safe, but the guilt was eating me up inside.
I had let my guard down, and because of that, my favorite person in the world, the only woman I’d ever really cared about, was almost taken from me. I couldn’t get that out of my head.
I stared at the ceiling with my mind racing. I should’ve seen it coming. I should’ve known someone like Fury would try something this wild. I was too focused on handling business, too confident that nobody would be dumb enough to come for Aviana. But they did, and I wasn’t there to stop it.
As she shifted a little in her sleep, I pulled her in closer. I couldn’t believe I almost lost her. The thought of her being hurt—or worse—because of me was too much.
I glanced down at her, watching her breathe. Her face was calm and peaceful, like nothing had happened. But she had been through hell, and I wasn’t there when she needed me the most. That shit burned deep. I let my guard down, and she paid for it.
I couldn’t forgive myself for that.
Aviana stirred slowly, and I felt her shift against my chest. I looked down and saw that she was awake. She stayed quiet for a moment, just lying there, staring out the window.
Then, out of nowhere, she spoke softly. “So, you sell guns illegally?”
I cringed as my stomach lurched. I had never been ashamed of my profession, but hearing her say it hit different. For the first time, I was ashamed, and I couldn’t look at her. I let out a deep breath, feeling that guilt sink deeper.
“Yeah,” I said lowly, “but I don’t sell to just anybody.
I only deal with cartels, organized syndicates—businessmen who don’t kill for no reason.
That’s why Fury came for you. I refused to sell to his crew, and they’ve been losing a war because they don’t have enough artillery.
His girl got killed, and he blamed me for it. ”
I waited, feeling the tension rise in the room. I expected her to be mad, to ask how I could do something like that.
But she didn’t. Instead. She smiled a little, almost like she found it funny. “Mia and I always wondered what you did, but I would’ve never guessed this.”
I was shocked at her nonchalant response. I lay there, blinking slowly, not sure how to take it. She wasn’t yelling, wasn’t looking at me like I was a monster. She was just…accepting it.
“You don’t care?”
She waved a hand dismissively. “I spent years with the wrong man because I thought he was the safe choice, and he turned out to be the devil in disguise. Despite what happened last night, I trust you to protect me, just like you did. I can’t imagine my life without you, Mythic.
I don’t want to spend my days longing for you.
I want to spend them enjoying and loving you, so no, I don’t care. ”
I looked at her—really looked at her—and all I could think was how I didn’t deserve her.
She was too pure, too good for someone like me, someone who lived in the shadows.
She almost lost her life because of me, and on top of that, she’d already lost her father’s respect.
I couldn’t put her through any more of this.
I sat up a little, pushing her off my chest gently but firmly. “You should go, Avi.”
“Huh?” Confused, she watched me, blinking rapidly as she braced herself on her elbow.
“I ain’t good for you. You almost died because of me. You need to get out before I drag you down with me.”
Her eyes searched mine, as if she were shocked, but she didn’t move. “Mythic, stop. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, you are. You’re getting the fuck up outta here,” I ordered, my voice hard, almost mean.
I needed her to understand, even if it hurt her.
“I’m no good for you. You’ll end up hurt—or worse—because of this life I’m in.
I can’t protect you from everything, and I won’t lose you because of my shit. ”
She shook her head, but her eyes never left mine. “You’re not pushing me away, Mythic. I don’t care about all that. I care about you.”
I felt the anger rise, but it wasn’t at her—it was at myself. “I ain’t worth your life, Aviana. Can’t you see that?”
But she didn’t budge, didn’t back down. “I’m not goin’ anywhere,” she repeated, bringing her face closer to mine. “You can try to push me away all you want, but I’m staying. I’m not losing you too.”
For a second, I wanted to fight it, wanted to yell at her, make her leave, but the way she looked at me, like she saw right through the bullshit, I couldn’t.
I couldn’t lose her either, no matter how hard I tried to push her away.
So, I just sat there, staring at the only person who proved there was some good left in me.
I hated the hold she had on me. It was smart to make her leave, to give her to a nigga who was better for her, but I couldn’t.
I couldn’t understand how she could still want me after everything.
Without thinking, I grabbed her face, pulling her close, and kissed her hard.
It wasn’t gentle. It was messy and full of anger and confusion.
Her lips trembled under mine, and I could feel the desperation in the way I kissed her, trying to push her away with the same force I was pulling her in.
She winced when my hand brushed against the bruise on her cheek.
I froze, my breath ragged. I pulled back just enough to look at her, still gripping her face. “You want me to stop?”
Her eyes locked on mine, and without missing a beat, she whispered, “No. Please don’t.”
That was all I needed. I kissed her again, this time slower, but the heat, the hunger between us, didn’t fade.
“Please don’t ever leave me.”
Her need made me yearn for her. I flipped her over and hovered on top of her. As I positioned my dick at her center, she held my face. As she cupped my beard, her fingers laced into the curly dark hairs.
“Don’t ever leave me,” she pleaded as I slowly pushed into her walls.
She gasped a bit, eyes widening from the stretch my entrance caused. “I promise I won’t ever leave my home.”
Aviana was my home. She was the only place I felt at peace, like I could finally breathe.
Everything about her grounded me and made me feel like I belonged somewhere.
She completed me in ways I didn’t even know I needed.
She was it for me. I had fantasized about her for years, watching her from a distance, aching to make her mine again.
And yet, I let another man mishandle her, but I planned to fix everything he broke.
Every crack, every piece of her that had been shattered, I was going to put her back together, piece by perfect piece.
DAMAR SCOTT
The clanging of the cell doors echoed down the block as the correctional officer slid them open for the hour of free time. I watched Bear step out, barely glancing my way. He grunted at the CO and disappeared into the dayroom. I should’ve been moving too, but I didn’t.
Once Bear was out of sight, I got up and quietly pushed the cell door back until it clicked shut. My hands were shaking, but I was intent.
I grabbed the sheet off my bunk. It was thin and worn. I started twisting it, wrapping it up as tight as I could, turning it into a rope. Every knot I made, I felt this strange sense of calm creeping in, like this was the only answer left for me.
I tied one end of the sheet around the top of the metal bunk frame.
I made sure that it was secure, pulling it hard so it would hold.
My fingers were numb, but I kept going, tying the other end into a noose.
I stared at it for a second, feeling my throat close, but it wasn’t from fear.
It was like I was ready, like this was the only way to stop the unbearable fear and dread.
I climbed onto the bunk, slipped the loop over my head, and tightened it around my neck. My chest thudded with each beat, but I felt numb all over. Everything around me blurred as I stood there, on the edge of ending it all.
I couldn’t take it anymore. It wasn’t just the thought of spending the rest of my life in this cell that was eating me alive.
Living under Bear’s control, knowing every day was gonna be hell with him, was torture I couldn’t face.
I already knew what was coming. Bear didn’t know who I was yet, but he would.
Word would get around soon enough. He was 111 Boyz through and through, and once he heard my name and learned what I had done, it was game over.
He wouldn’t just beat me down; he’d make it a daily thing.
I’d be his punching bag until I couldn’t take another hit.
The thought of waking up every day in this cell, living under the shadow of this man was nerve ending.
I was already living with the guilt of everything I had done to Aviana, to Mia, to my son.
Now, on top of that, I had to live under Bear’s boot.
I’d rather end it here, on my own terms, before he turned my life into a living nightmare.
I felt the pressure around my neck, tighter with each passing second, my breath coming in short gasps. My heart was pounding like it was trying to fight its way out of my chest. This was it. I was supposed to let go and just let it happen.
But as the seconds ticked by, panic started to creep in.
I felt the world closing in, the air getting thinner, and suddenly, I couldn’t do it.
My body wouldn’t let me. I yanked at the sheet, my hands shaking, fingers scrambling to untie the knot.
Tears started streaming down my face before I even realized I was crying.