Page 104 of Promises in the Dark

She paused, wiping away a tear. “He only had one life vest on that boat, and he gave it to me. Said he didn’t need it because he was a good swimmer.”

I felt numb, yet too aware of everything at the same time, a lump forming in my throat.

“On our way back, another boat came speeding past us, causing a wave that flipped our boat over. My father suffered a head injury, and fell unconscious.”

I listened, my heart sinking with every word she uttered. She took a deep breath, her voice breaking.

“I tried to save him, Rogue. But I couldn’t. He slipped away, and drowned right in front of me.”

I crushed my cigarette into the ashtray and pulled her into my arms, holding her tight as she cried. “You didn’t kill him, Red,” I said with conviction. “It was an accident.”

But she just shook her head, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

“I should have listened to him,” she choked out. “He died because of me.”

My jaw tightened as I saw her suffer so much pain and guilt over something that wasn’t her fault, yet she held herself responsible.

“You were just a kid, Red. You couldn’t have known what would happen,” I insisted, reaching out to wipe away her tears. “And your father wouldn’t want you carrying this shit around with you.”

I cradled her in my arms and stroked her hair gingerly, trying to soothe her as the tears fell. “Shhh, let it out.”

I didn’t know what the fuck to say, so I just held her tighter, burying my face in her hair as I tried to absorb some of her pain. She felt so fragile in my arms, like she might shatter into a million fucking pieces if I let go.

“Let it all out.”

With a trembling hand, Red wiped her tears away and pulled away from our embrace.

“I’m sorry,” she let out a meek sniffle. “I shouldn’t have unloaded all that on you.”

I shook my head, reaching out to gently cup her cheek in my hand. She didn’t owe me any apologies. Hell, she didn’t owe anyone shit.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for. You’re allowed to feel whatever you need to feel.”

I leaned in close and brushed my lips against hers. The touch was gentle, tentative at first, as if asking for permission. But soon enough, I found myself losing myself in the kiss.

I tangled my fingers into her hair as I pulled her closer, craving more of her taste. Her body molded to mine, pressing her curves into my hard muscle.

My hands slid down her back, my fingers lightly grazing her bare skin. I broke away from her lips, nuzzling her neck, making her gasp and arch into me. My tongue traced along her collarbone, and she let out this breathy little moan that drove me fucking insane.

“I want you so bad, it hurts,” I murmured into her skin. “But we need to focus on what we’re gonna do about that asswipe of an ex you have.”

Red’s body was tense as she adjusted her position to sit up a little straighter. “You’re right,” she nodded, her eyes not straying away from mine.

Then snatched a cigarette from my pack and lit it with a quick flick of my lighter. She held it loosely between her fingers, her eyes meeting mine briefly before she took a drag from it.

I watched her, every detail, the way she held the cigarette, the way she inhaled the smoke—it was fucking erotic, and I hated how much it turned me on.

I shouldn’t be into that.

But fuck, I was.

The sound of someone knocking at my door broke my focus, drawing my attention away from Red. My heart leaped into my throat, and I cursed under my breath, wondering who the hell could be interrupting us at this hour. I didn’t fucking trust anyone these days, especially not unexpected visitors.

I casted a glance towards the door as if it had personally offended me and Red’s lips parted as if she was about to say something, but the knock came again, louder this time, more insistent, like whoever the fuck was on the other side wasn’t about to take no for an answer.

I glanced at Red, signaling her to stay put as I stood and made my way to the door.

“Rogue, are you in there?” a gruff voice called from the other side of the door.

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