Page 21 of In the Midst of Chaos

“Come on, let’s go party.” He gave me a little shake.

I nodded but didn’t move. I finally allowed myself to look at the man whose life I had just taken.

“You did good, son.” Leon patted my shoulder. When I looked at him, he looked pleased.

“I’m going to go home and change,” I said to them even though that was a lie.

They believed me and didn’t question it. I walked back to the dark path that led to the house.

My head was not in a good place, and maybe that’s why she got one up on me, but at that moment, I didn’t have it in me to scold her for being out of the house unprotected.

Finley took one look at me, and she gave me a sad smile.

Her chestnut hair was down, falling in waves. She wore leggings with a cropped hoodie. I hated when she wore clothes like that—guys, men, anyone who liked chicks stared, and Finley was gorgeous.

I swallowed.

Finley’s chest rose and fell. I could see she was weighing something behind her dark eyes, and then when she came to a decision, she walked toward me. When she was one step away, she held open her arms, and because the weight of someone’s life hung on my shoulders, I walked into them.

She was still shorter than me and lighter, but at that moment, I felt like she was the one holding me up.

Finley wasn’t like other girls because Micah had always taught her that she deserved more. She held herself to high standards and was the type of girl you wanted to emulate, so you held yourself to the same.

Her fingers started to run over my hair, and when her nails scraped my scalp, I shivered.

“My father told me that you always remember your first. You can be years or miles from the place where it happened, but their eyes will still haunt you.”

I twisted my head and burrowed my head into her neck. Fuck, she smelled so sweet and soft. Chanel No. 5. She liked to joke that it was the only thing classy about her.

In her arms, I felt like a king. That should have been a warning that I was in dangerous territory. One of my arms wrapped around her middle. The other came to her chin, and I gently tipped her chin so she could look up at me.

“I’d gladly carry this weight on my shoulders if it means that I got retribution for your dad.”

She sucked in a breath. She then raised her hand and cupped one of my cheeks. “It’s sweet, but I don’t need a Crull boy taking care of me.”

I grinned at her. “Baby.” The word slipped out, but it felt so fucking right. “I’ll always take care of you.”

“You really mean that?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” I vowed.

“Do me a favor, Nash?”

I grinned at her. “What?”

“Don’t die for me.”

The smile fell from my lips.

“I can’t promise you that,” I said as I grabbed a strand of her hair. “Come on, let’s get you back to your room. You know you shouldn’t be out.”

She rolled her eyes at me but started to walk ahead of me. It was a silent walk back to her tower.

When I was at her bedroom door, she turned around and cocked her head. “I’m glad I was there.”

Her words hit me deep, and I couldn’t explain why. After a while, I replied, “Me too.”

I had just taken a step back about to leave for my party when Finley called my name.

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