Page 158 of All Your Hate

I paid my guy a hefty tip to make this grave sight as morbidly romantic as possible and to unearth the grave for me.

Wynter’s footsteps start to slow the closer we get to it.

“If you’re actually part of a cult then I’m out,” she says nervously.

When we get close enough I take the lead and step ahead of her.

She looks around at the black rose petals and lit candles scattered all over. “What is all this?”

“Our date night.”

“You said we wouldn’t be killing.” She looks nervous as she holds her arms tight around her middle.

“I wasn’t lying. He’s already dead.” Stepping aside I reveal the headstone of Tommaso Abato with his rotting corpse lying underneath.

“Noah,” she whispers barely loud enough for me to hear.

“I know that you wish it was you that killed Tommaso. Well, now you can end him forever. Destroy his body for good.” I gesture to the canisters of kerosene next to the grave.

She picks one up and it sloshes loudly. “I don’t understand.”

Circling around her, I wrap my arms around her waist and settle them on her stomach, my fingers skating southwards. “Burn him. Turn his corpse into ash and be rid of your demons forever,” I whisper close to her ear.

She turns in my arms, the kerosene between us acting as a cock blocker. “You did all this for me? You’re crazy.” She may say that but I see that sparkle of insanity in her own eyes.

“Certifiably for you, little viper. You know you want to do this. Tell me how much you need it.”

“I do,” she says as she looks down between us. “I’ve missed being near you and having you inside me, but I’ve also missed the violence. You’ve turned me into a murderer. A monster. But I’ve come to realize I don’t need to be ashamed. That version of me is what saved my life and brought me back to Summer.”

With one finger I tilt her chin back up. “It’s not a version. That is exactly who you are. But you’re not a monster. You, Wynter, are a goddess. You’re indestructible. You’re powerful. You bring men to their fucking knees.”

She swallows and tears brim her eyes. “Thank you for saving me.” Tossing the can aside, she grabs my head, pulling me in fora kiss. There’s no easing into it or coyness. It’s pure feral need as our tongues fight for dominance. We’re both as vicious as each other, forcing our tongues in deep and biting each other's lips until blood is exchanged between us.

“Little viper, you’re the one that saved me.”

The moonlight bounces off her eyes as she stares into mine. “I love you, Noah. But I need to know that you're aware what you did was wrong.”

Love. I’ve craved it from her since the first moment I saw her in that house and I’m never letting it slip through my fingers again.

“I should have told you. You were so much stronger than I gave you credit for and I see that now. I don’t regret keeping your sister safe. I love her as my own. But I swear I will never keep anything from you again. Do you believe me?”

Wynter presses her forehead to mine and sighs, “Yes. I believe you. And thank you for this gift.”

With a devious smile, she picks up the kerosene and douses what remains of Tommaso in it. I hand her the key to finally bringing her all the peace she deserves. A lit match.

I watch enraptured as she drops it into the grave and the fire lights her from below. Silhouetting her as this perfect goddess of death that crawled straight out of the fiery hell that molded her.

I reach into my pocket for a small box. As she turns to face me, with a smile on her face, I drop to one knee and open it. Her eyes go wide as she looks down at the engagement ring topped with a large blue gemstone.

“Wynter, my love, you are my sole existence for breathing. I will never leave your side. Even if you hate me, even if you want nothing more to do with me I’ll still be here making sure no one will ever touch you again. You will always be mine and I want to always be yours. Will you give me that pleasure?”

Her bottom lip trembles and my heart stops as I wait for theno. Like I said, if she doesn’t want me I’ll find a way to accept that. I’ll make peace with it and protect her from the shadows.

“Yes,” she says and my heart explodes. “You’re mine, Noah. You have been for a long time, I was just too full of my own hate to admit that.”

Holding her hand out for me, I take it and don’t waste a second to slip the ring on her finger.

“It fits perfectly,” she points out as she admires it.

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