Page 82 of The Lies We Believe

“Mmmm.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped up to the sliding doors leading out onto the deck.

The clomping of her boots faded as she headed to the U-Haul we’d hired for the day. It was hard to believe we’d lived here for two years. It passed in the blink of an eye, and yet it seemed like it had taken forever. When I’d been released from the hospital a few days after Bane and the guys caught the Mitchell brothers, Bane had refused to take me back to his house. He’d said after what happened there, it wasn’t his home anymore. It was just bricks and mortar, and that his home was wherever I was. I felt that in the marrow of my bones. From that first time I’d found myself in Bane’s arms in that interrogation room, it’d felt like coming home.

“Hey angel, how are you doing?” Bane nuzzled into my neck, peppering the sensitive skin with light kisses. I tilted my head to the side, allowing him access, and melted into his embrace as his arms wrapped around my waist.

“I-I’m okay,” I said softly, losing myself to his touch. One hand splayed across my abs, fingertips toying with the top of my pants. “It’s just…”

“I know.” His hot breath puffed against my damp skin, making me shiver and him chuckle as he squeezed me tighter. The low tenor had heat pooling in my gut. “Today is the sentencing hearing, but you have nothing to worry about. None of them will be getting out.”

God, how I hoped that was true, that they wouldn’t trade any plea bargains in exchange for information. We wanted lifetime convictions for all of them and everyone else associated with Black Dahlia, but it would have been naïve of me to think everyone would serve time. Christine Hamilton, aka the DahliaI knew, was the head of Black Dahlia. When her true identity came out, her whole family fell under the umbrella of the investigation. When the press revealed the mayor’s involvement, it sent shockwaves through Holme Oaks, rocking the town to its core. The scars this atrocity left would be visible for generations to come.

“I hope s-so.” I licked my dry lips. “Because if they c-come for me…”

“I’ll be waiting, angel. No one is getting their hands on you ever again.”

Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was stronger than that. Ever since that day in the hospital when Bane, Montoya, and Jordan took down the Mitchell brothers, I’d decided I’d be strong and wouldn’t let the past hold me back. I had a life I could have only dreamed of, and I was going to fucking live it.

A sob slipped from my lips as I turned in his arms, looked up at him, and gave a watery smile. Bane’s eyes glistened, haunted by the memories we shared and the stories I’d told him over the years. There were no words that could describe how much he’d single-handedly altered the course of my life.

My eyes dipped to his full lips, then back to his eyes, which now sparkled as he watched me, a brow arched in question. I didn’t need to think about it. I pushed up onto my toes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled him down to seal my mouth to his.

A deep groan rumbled in his chest as our lips met. He was warm and soft and oh so eager as his tongue swiped across the seam of my mouth. It had taken me months to feel comfortable enough to initiate things between us. I was always terrified I was either going to be punished, or he was going to freak on me again like he did with BJgate, but after a few sessions with Joelle, things started to improve. But it took work. We both had to learnhow to communicate better and being honest about what we wanted was the first step.

Bane’s tongue pushed into my mouth, making my knees weak as it wrapped around mine. His taste exploded across my tongue, and his decadent cedarwood and leather scent drugged me with every inhale. We kissed like it was our last time—all blinding passion and heart-stopping need. He cupped the back of my head, holding me in place as he devoured me and sucked the air from my lungs.

“Fuck, angel,” he gasped, his breath coming out in ragged puffs, and rested his forehead against mine. “I want you so much b-but—” He stuttered when my hand toyed with his hard length over his jeans. “You little shit.” I laughed and buried my head in the crook of his neck as he lifted me so my legs could wrap around his waist. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Hmm.” I rolled my hips. My hard length against his was all I could focus on.

“Stop.” Large hands gripped my hips, his fingers dipping into my crease. “I’m going to hate myself for saying this…” Bane’s voice was rough and sex drenched. “But we need to get Shadow and get on the road. It’s a couple of hours to our house from here. We should get moving.”

The front door banged, shaking the walls of the rental, quickly followed by heavy footsteps. “Oh, come on, you two,” Montoya grumbled. “Jordan and I have been waiting for you and the dog for fifteen minutes. I want a tour of your house, preferably before it’s dark outside, and he’s hungry and won’t stop whining.”

I peeked over Bane’s shoulder to find her with a shit-eating grin on her face. My face flushed as I slid down his body and adjusted myself.

“On it.” I grabbed Shadow’s leash and slipped out through the sliding doors. The cool midmorning air hit me like a slap inthe face, but I hoped by the time we made it to our cabin—our new home—the sun would be out so we could sit in the backyard and relax. Bane was looking forward to using his new grill, and I wanted to watch the stars.

Shadow came running to me the second I stepped outside. His black coat glistened in the sun, highlighting the flecks of white that now dappled his coat. He’d become my self-appointed emotional support dog and went everywhere with me, rarely leaving my side. I was hopeful this new beginning would lighten the load he carried on his little shoulders as I left my demons behind in Holme Oaks.

His wet paws landed on my thigh, his tongue hanging out as he panted. “You’re such a good boy, aren’t you?” I cooed and kneeled down so I could give him some fuss and clip the leash onto his collar. “Are you ready to go on an adventure?” He yipped happily and licked my face as a wave of trepidation washed over me.

I’d tried to keep my emotions on lockdown today, but they occasionally crept up on me when I was least expecting it. Dealing with change was hard. I needed security and the control a routine offered me, and with moving today and everything happening with the Black Dahlia court case, it was throwing me for a loop.

“Come on, Riv,” Bane called as he stuck his head out the door. “Let’s get going and start our new life.”

“Sounds perfect.” Bane’s fingers slipped through mine as we locked the sliding doors, left our keys on the counter, and shut the front door for the final time.

The drive to Copper Hills passed in the blink of an eye. I’d fallen asleep as we’d left Holme Oaks. In my defense, I had hardly slept the night before. I couldn’t tell if it was nerves or excitement that kept me awake, but I’d seen the moon travel across the sky and dawn break and chase away the darkness. Itfelt like a metaphor for my life as I’d sat on the deck with a cup of cocoa in one hand and my Kindle in another, watching the first rays of sunshine appear on the horizon.

Our new home slowly came into view as Bane maneuvered the U-Haul up the winding track that would become our driveway. We’d spent the last six months fixing the cabin up, turning it from a crumbling ruin of rotten wood to a gorgeous home that encompassed both of our tastes.

The cabin was a decent size, according to Bane, though to me it felt more like a hidden wooden mansion tucked away in the woods, safe from prying eyes. It featured three bedrooms on the first floor, along with a spacious, open-plan living area that seamlessly blended a lounge, dining space, and kitchen. The design was a charming mix of rustic wood and brick contrasted with sleek, modern touches. Floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with natural light, and the kitchen looked like something straight out of a magazine.

Bane had been like a kid in a candy store when he first saw it, and it warmed my heart to see him so excited. I was perfectly happy to give him free rein to decorate the space however he wanted. After all, I wasn’t planning on spending much time in the kitchen. My culinary experience had officially ended after a failed attempt at making him a grilled cheese nearly burned down our rental. Honestly, I didn’t mind. My man could create magic in the kitchen, so it was really a win-win.

The second floor, though, was mine, and I’d poured my heart into it. Our bedroom was my pride and joy. A custom-made bed stood proudly in the center of the wall opposite the expansive windows, which offered a stunning view of the surrounding woods. I couldn’t wait to wake up in the mornings, lying in bed and watching the world come alive outside. Having never spent much time in nature, I was eager to explore our newsurroundings, and maybe, if I was brave enough, take a dip in the river running down the mountainside.

But first, I had a plan. After unpacking the essentials for our room, I was going to sink into the Jacuzzi tub we’d had installed. It was big enough for me to sprawl out like a starfish if Bane wasn’t with me, though I hoped he would join more often than not.

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