Page 123 of Savage Vicious Heir: Part Two

I didn’t prepare him for the fallout of the article… because I knew if I told him my plan, he’d try and talk me out of it.

But I thought I could get to him, to explain before anything like this happened.

“Elliot,” I say again, calmer this time, as I lay my hand on his arm.

A shudder goes through him as he shoves the boy away and grits out, “Get the fuck out of here and keep her name out of your mouth.”

“Y-yeah. Of course, my bad, Abi.” The boy gives me an apologetic half-smile as he scurries away.

Elliot’s head drops in defeat, anger still rippling off him. I cast a wary glance towards Oakley and Tally and she grimaces. “Do you need us to?—”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ve got this.”

“You need anything, you let us know, okay.” Oakley adds, and I nod.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t do anything stupid, big man,” he adds before leading Tally away.

The corridor suddenly feels too small, the walls closing in around us.

“I’m sorry, I should have?—”

Elliot grabs me and hauls me into his arms, his mouth crashing down on mine as he backs me up against the wall.

“Elliot,” I breathe between kisses, so overwhelmed at the frustration and desire pouring off him in thick, angry waves.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” He presses his head to mine, trapping me in his icy gaze. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I did it for you. For us.”

“But everyone?—”

“I don’t care.” I slide a palm to his cheek and inhale a shaky breath. “I’m tired of hiding, Elliot. I’m tired of living in the shadows. For so many years, I thought my scars defined me. That my grief and pain made me different—too different. The odd, shy girl who didn’t know how to make friends or trust people.

“But the past does not define us. Our scars do not define us.” I hold his face in my hands, willing him to understand.

To accept my decision to stand up for him.

To choose him.

“You know, it’s supposed to be my job to protect you.”

A soft huff escapes me. “Can’t we protect each other?”

“I’m not… good at relinquishing control. When I heard that arsehole talking shit about you…”

“I should have told you, given you time to accept things.”

“No, you’re right, I would have tried to talk you out of it.”

“I’m okay with everyone knowing my secrets, Elliot.” Because you’re more important, I swallow the words, unsure he’s ready to hear them. “Besides, if my story can help just one person… That has to be a good thing.”

He stares down at me, something warring in his eyes.

“What?” I ask, a little breathless at the intensity in his gaze. The admiration.

“You are one of the strongest people I know, Red. And does it gut me that you felt you had to do this, for me? Yeah, it does. But I’m in fucking awe of you.” Elliot brushes a wisp of hair out of my face. “I love you.”

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