Page 59 of His Dark Pull

I lean in, my lips meeting his in a kiss that is both passionate and filled with bittersweet relief. He is mine, and I am his, and no matter what the future holds, we face it together.

The air crackles with the metallic clicks of handcuffs as the police round up the last of the Veles Network, their faces grim, their movements efficient. Dexter stands amidst the chaos, a smirk playing on his lips as the officers clamp the cuffs around his wrists. His eyes, once warm and inviting, are now cold and sharp, devoid of any trace of remorse.

The anger that has been simmering within me erupts. I storm towards him, my vision tunneling until he’s the only thing I see. Disgust burns in my throat like acid, and without hesitation, I spit. The saliva lands on his cheek with a soft splat, a badge of my utter contempt.

“Why?”I hiss, my hands clenched into fists.

He raises an eyebrow, the smirk widening. “Why?”he echoes, his voice a mocking caress. “Because I can. Because it’s fun. Because”— he leans closer, his gaze holding mine with chilling intensity —“I want to see you squirm.”

I shake my head. “You’re sick,”I whisper, my voice filled with cold fury. “You’re a monster.”

He laughs, a hollow, empty sound that echoes the emptiness of his soul as the officers lead him away, his reign of terror at an end.

A bone-deep chill seeps into me, a numbness lingers in my mind. Alexander’s arms envelop me. His lips brush against my hair. “It’s over now,”he murmurs, “We’re safe.”

“Yes,”I say. Still, I wonder what scars this night will leave on him and us?

The cold seeps through my clothes as I huddle against the police car, seeking comfort in its cold steel. Alexander remains silent. I look up. The night sky is a tapestry of twinkling stars. My mind replays the horrors, each scene a fresh wound.

My eyelids grow heavy, my muscles ache. Closing my eyes, I inhale the crisp air, clinging to the faint scent of pine and damp earth – a reminder of life persisting. Alexander’s hand finds mine as he slumps to the ground next to me, intertwining our fingers in a silent vow.

A sudden screech of tires shatters the fragile peace. Blinding headlights pierce the darkness, announcing the arrival of another police car. Two figures emerge, their features obscured by the harsh glare. Alexander tenses beside me, his grip tightening on my hand.

As they get closer, I recognize Tyler and Sarah.Why are they here?My legs tremble as I try to stand, and Tyler’s arms steady me. Sarah’s eyes, filled with concern and a touch of suspicion, settle on Alexander.

“Ava, are you okay?”Tyler asks, his voice tight.

“We’re fine,”Alexander says, his tone clipped. “What are you doing here?”

I squeeze his hand. “Harvey called us,”Sarah says. “We were worried about you. We looked everywhere for you. I can’t believe it was Dexter.”

Tyler avoids my gaze, shame etched upon his features. “I’m sorry, Ava. I had no idea. He was my best friend.”His voice cracks, and he hides his face in his hands.

I reach out, pulling him into a hug. “You couldn’t have known, Tyler. None of us did. It’s okay.”I pull away, my gaze meeting his. “It’s over now. Your father saved us.”

* * *

A shiver runs through me, and I draw the blanket some police officer had given me tighter around me. As I sink back against the car, Alexander cups my face, gently brushing away a smudge of dirt.

Sarah kneels beside us, her eyes darting between us. “What happened in there?”she asks.

Alexander shrugs, his expression unreadable. “It’s a long story,”he says. “But it’s over. They’re going away for a long time.”

Tyler nods, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “My dad took them into custody. I hope there’s enough evidence to put them away for good. If not, I’ll make damn sure of it.”

I nod. “T-thank you, Tyler. For everything. And Harvey–”The words feel inadequate, but my gratitude runs deep, and I hope he knows it.

Alexander’s jaw clenches. “Fuckin’ Dexter.”

Tyler’s eyes meet mine. “Nobody knew about his double life. It was hard enough just tracking you down, here to this plantation.”

“How did you even know where to look?”I ask. My gaze flickers between them, searching for answers.

Sarah’s hand rests on my arm. “We hacked into Dexter’s communication system at Spectrum. Followed the trail.”

Of course, Sarah did the hacking. She’s amazing.

My mind races, trying to grasp the implications. “But how did you suspect Dexter?”

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