Page 59 of The Afterthought

"You are more than just an afterthought. You are everything. My past. My present. My future. The reason my heart beats in my chest. You are my biggest regret and my greatest gift, all at the same time. I would do anything for you if you let me."

"Do you mean that?"

"I do. I love you, Avalynn Blake. Forever my heart."

"Forever my always," she whispers back.

She doesn't say that she loves me, but she doesn't have to. The three words she just said mean so much more than I love you ever could. She snuggles back into me for a few minutes, and while I wish I could stay here with her like this forever, I have to show her the surprise waiting in my torture shed.

"Let's go take a shower. I have something I want to show you."

We shower quickly, and I have her dress in clothes that she wouldn't mind throwing away before we load ourselves in the car for the short drive. We pull up to the garage, and she immediately looks nervous. She's made it clear several times now that she doesn't want anything to do with gang life, yet I’ve brought her to one of our main hangouts.

"It's not what you think," I blurt out before she can say anything. "Do you trust me?"

She eyes me wearily but nods. "Yes."

I step out of the car and walk around to her side, opening the door and reaching out my hand to her. "Come with me. I have a gift for you."

She doesn't say a word as I lead her from the car to behind the garage, where the shed sits in the trees. I pull open the door, and just before stepping inside, I grab her by her shoulders and force her to look up at me.

"I'm right here with you, baby. There's nothing you need to be afraid of. If it's too much, just let me know." Her brow furrows, but she nods her head.

I grab her hand to lead her inside, and we only make it a few steps before her entire body goes rigid. I look over to her to find her eyes locked with David's and nothing but pure terror on her face. She goes to take a step back, but I place my arm behind her, preventing her from retreating.

"He's tied up. He’s not going to hurt you. He's never going touch you ever again," I assure her. She looks over at me with tears in her eyes. When a tear drips down her cheek, I bring my thumb up to wipe it away and cup her face.

"Grey," she says with a shaky voice. She's not sure what's happening, but that's okay. I'll help her.

"I brought them here for you, Ava. They don't get to leave."

She looks over at both David and Officer Grant and then back to me. She pauses for a moment as if she is trying to decide what to do, but she simply loops her arms around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. I melt into her, feeling the way the warmth of her mouth ignites mine. She is absolute perfection. She pulls back and looks at me with nothing but intrigue on her face this time.

"What are we going to do with them?" Her brow raises in question.

Fuck yes! She is into this. I grab her by the waist and lead her to the shelves filled with various tools. "We are going to make them pay for hurting you."

"You did this for me?" she asks, not believing me even though I just told her I did.

"Yes."

"You may have just won over my heart again." She smiles as she reaches out to grab something off the shelf.

I don't notice what she grabs. I'm too transfixed by her words. I won her heart. She admitted earlier that she's mine, and now she is telling me I have her heart. This is exactly what I was hoping for.

"Let me show you why some people call me Coal." I reach out to grab my favorite blowtorch and then grab her hand to lead her back toward the two soon-to-be-dead-assholes in the center of the room.

Chapter 27

Avalynn

When I saw the knife on the shelf, I knew that it was what I needed to grab. I'm not a violent person, and in any other situation, I would have told Grey that he was out of his mind. This is different. This is the man who almost killed me. This man is the reason I haven't been able to feel safe for years. I've had to live with the memories of that day on repeat in my mind over and over again.

David has a stone face to him, but I'll do my best to make sure that changes. He still believes he's getting out of here alive. He's not. Directly next to him is Officer Grant. He looks a little more disheveled than David. He keeps trying to murmur something under the tape that covers his mouth.

I don't care what he has to say or what happens to him. He knowingly played his part, and now he can pay the price. David was the one who hurt me; I'll handle him. Greyson can take out his anger on Officer Grant. I know I'm going to see a much more brutal side of him today, but I'm not afraid. I know that Greyson would never physically harm me. He has proven that no matter what, he will protect me.

I never thought I would be the kind of person to willingly want to take another person's life. My father is most likely rolling in his grave right now, but you know what? My father had his secrets. Why can't I have some of my own? Today, I'm taking back my power. I'll never be able to thank Grey enough for this gift.

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