Page 20 of Psycho Saviors

I couldn’t help the smile that touched my lips at his words.

He tilted my head, making my eyes flutter open before his lips pressed against mine gently. “I’m proud of you,” he breathed as he pulled back, staring down at me like I’d just given him the world. The emotions and softness in his gaze were jarring, but I couldn’t look away as he cupped my face, his thumb stroking my cheek sweetly.

“Angelo Russo would’ve ordered this. He’ll pay for this. The Russos are weakened now, that was one hell of a blow they took,” Tyrone mused, and Cristian broke his gaze from mine, letting me relax against his shoulder once more.

“I say we wipe them off the board,” Cristian said, his voice deathly low and sinister. A shiver crawled up my spine at his chilling words.

“They declared war, blood will flood the streets now,” Julian agreed.

“Yes. He made one hell of a mistake, one the entire family will suffer for. He will pay, and not just with the death of his sons,” Tyrone said after a moment of deliberation.

“Damn straight. Let’s burn them away from existence,” Cristian said with a wicked smirk as he stroked my arm.

I closed my eyes, wanting to focus on the fact I was alive.

Not worry about this impending war.

8

SCARLET

The ride home had been uneventful, and I’d actually drifted off, my painkillers making me sleepy now that the adrenaline had waned. I’d wanted to walk myself upstairs, but Cristian had kept one arm around my waist for the elevator ride up, while Julian had pressed into me on the other side. Even Tyrone kept giving me strange looks, his face emotionless, but a haunting look in his eye.

Now, I stood in the bathroom, inspecting the bump on my head and taking in my appearance. I needed a shower, my hair was disheveled, I still had slight blood staining around the edges of my mouth, and there was blood on my shirt from Cristian.

“We survived,” I whispered to my reflection, still shell-shocked as I started to strip down. It was like I was in a daze until the hot water washed over me, and tears welled in my eyes.

I slid down to the floor of the shower, closing my eyes as I sobbed, the entire episode of events finally hitting me hard.

I’d never expected my life to wind up like this. To get shot at, have my life on the line, get attacked and witness so many deaths.

I covered my mouth, muffling my sobs as my body trembled, the warm water doing little to lift the ice settling over my heart.

If it weren’t for the brothers…

No. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been in that mess to begin with. Sure, I might’ve been in prison, but that was likely a hell of a lot safer than this mess.

I just wanted to go to Noms, to curl up on the bed beside her as we hugged and promised to be there for each other like always.

I just wanted the unconditional love and support I’d only ever found from her.

And Kenny. God, I wanted to cuddle that cat like my life depended on it. Hell, he was the reason I was alive right now.

I opened my eyes as the bathroom door creaking reached my ears.

“Go away,” I said as I hugged my legs to my body.

I stared up as Cristian stepped into view before the shower.

He didn’t say a word as he stepped into the shower, still wearing his pants but no shirt still. He sat down beside me, wrapping one arm around my shoulders as another sob bubbled up my throat.

I didn’t want him seeing my weakness, and whatever the hell had happened between us, the entire shift with the whole Russo thing, I was still wrapping my head around it.

“It’s scary sometimes, this life,” he said, his voice muffled by the warm water washing over my head.

“You didn’t seem scared,” I said quietly, although I was leaning into him now. I couldn’t help it, despite everything, I did feel strangely safe with him, which was beyond fucked up.

“I’m messed up, we know that,” he said with a soft chuckle.

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