Page 106 of Darkest Deception

Energy starts to leave my body, but I continue.

“Aurora is my sister, the one person I tried to protect from our father.” My voice trembles. “I was severely bullied in school. I wear long sleeves, long jeans, black tights, covering every part of my skin. I cover it, so Aurora could wear dresses.”

Helia’s eyebrows twist into a frown.

“I have put myself forward in our father’s eyes so she could stay in the dark and live her life. I have dealt with losing myself so she could build her own life. I have hidden my scars, my struggles, my fears, and my dreams so she could live her own, Helia.” I flash a shaky smile at him.

“I know I have ruined people’s lives for the sake of our father, for his approval, and I accept my mistakes. I accept that I made bad decisions, too. I was too far gone, but I would never hurt Aurora or anyone so severely that they can’t sleep at night. I have given back and tried begging for forgiveness.”

My lower lip trembles, and Helia reaches out with his hand but drops it.

Something about that makes my heart clench painfully.

“I was the one who was ecstatic when we found a signal to her phone, and I sent special forces to pick her up. I was there feeding her, sitting outside her door all night long in case she couldn’t sleep, knowing she hated the sight of me for leaving her alone in school, for letting her be alone in this life. But I tried to shield her as best as I could.” My heads drops forward in shame.

“I tried as much as a sixteen-year-old could, but it wasn’t enough. With a father and mother like ours, it’s not possible to do much.” My hand covers my eyes as tears fall out.

Lifting my head, I watch him through teary eyes.

“Ambrose,” Helia starts, but I shake my head.

Unzipping my jumper, I drop it to the floor, leaving me in only my black bra.

Helia’s eyes fall on my arms, my stomach, and they harden.

Taking off my leggings, I let them drop to the floor, my underwear the only thing left on me.

His eyes drop to my legs, and his jaw clenches just as his knuckles turn white.

Red ugly marks that are barely healed, faint scars that failed to heal properly cover my body.

“I didn’t bother getting laser removal. What answer would I give if rumours of these were to leak?”

A chill passes through the house, and I shiver, but I stand still as Helia’s unwavering eyes trace my body. They go over each scar, assessing each one carefully.

Then he speaks. “I will kill every single person who has put their hands on you.”

“No, you won’t. This ends here, Helia. Me and you. Whatever this was. Whatever this is, it should stop. Not only will it destroy you; it will destroy me, too. It will leave us in the ashes of who we are, of what we want. I wish I could say I hate you, but I don’t. Not anymore—”

“Stop saying that!” Helia bursts out.

His hands settle on my cheeks.

“I believe you. I’ll believe you forever. I’ll fucking kill every single person who has hurt you, who has left a mark on your body.” His eyes drop lower to my body, where every single part feels ugly.

He starts breathing faster, as if trying to control his emotions.

I have never cried in front of anyone before, yet here I am, falling into a deep hole no one can save me from.

I’m falling into the abyss.

The abyss that is Helia.

Hands grab the back of my neck and pull me into an embrace. Helia’s face settles in the crook of my neck, his hold tight and secure. My own hands go around him, burying my face into his chest, and I choke back a sob.

“Stop pushing me away. Stop trying to make me leave, because that won’t happen. You have a hook in me, Ambrose. You keep reeling me back to you, every single time.” His muffled voice makes my heart quiver in need. “Tell me, just once, that you want me, that you feel as deeply for me.”

Instead of answering, I lift my head and grab hold of his chin, pulling him lower until his lips mould to mine.

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