Page 249 of Deceit

She’s meant to be loved and made love to.

If she hides from me, to restrain the mental pain, I’m going to have a hell of a time digging her out. It’s a dark and engulfing hole that’s like quicksand. The more you think or feel it, the harder the suction.

Another gunshot rings out, and I feel it graze my bicep.

Pissed, I rear back on the guy beneath me and crash my skull into his face.

Without another thought and ignoring the throbbing pain, I try to use my good leg to push myself up to stand, but it gives out on me.

That’s when the old fucker Charlie Brown kicks my ass and connects with my chin.

I’m on my ass next, then on my spine with another kick to the chest.

“Leave him alone,” I hear Emmy order, her voice not as confident as I need her to be right now.

I slowly coerce my head to move, so I can see her.

There is no fear for me residing inside my veins. It’s all for her.

It’s always for her.

She needs to live so she can take care of those kids.

Ourkids.

“For a wedding present?” Alexander ponders pompously. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“Then you better kill us both because—“

“Emmy.” My voice comes out cracked and in a whole lot of discomfort, but I glare at her to shut her the hell up.

Her brown eyes find mine and they’re teared up with hopelessness.

I want to play along with this game that she wanted us to join in on, but I can’t tell her to give him a chance while allowing him false hope.

He doesn’t deserve it.

He definitely doesn’t warrant my giving him her.

I’d never be able to do it.

She’s mine—point blank, end of story. Even my pride continues to get in the way, but it’s not going to be my last words if this is it for me.

I’d never give her up.

“I wish you would’ve been true to who you were,” Emmy speaks up, falling to the ground and away from Alexander. She pushes herself back by the heels of her feet like a little child wanting to get away from being yelled at. “You said you’d support me. That no matter what, you’d be there.”

“I meant—“

“Stoplying,” she screams, making me flinch to the pain in her tone. “You almost killed me! You almost killed my children! You fucking changed me!”

“Emmy—“

“Fuck you!”

Alexander steps forward as she continues to push herself away. “It’ll take time, but we can fix this.”

“I did,” she retorts viciously. “I fixed it with him.” The tip of her finger points in my direction with her hands cuffed in front of her, and she just fucked up her whole plan.

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