Page 60 of Grave Intentions

She swallows, her expression conflicted. “What exactly do you mean by ‘pay’?”

Leaning forward, I whisper, “I’ll make sure he suffers. He’ll never lay a hand on you or anyone else ever again. Trust me.”

Lena’s gaze drops to her hands, and she takes a steadying breath. “What about you? Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’m sure.” I pause, searching her eyes. “This isn’t just about revenge for me; it’s about ensuring your safety. He can’t be allowed to hurt you again. Ever.”

“Okay.” Her voice is soft, but her tone is resolute. “I trust you.”

Lena’s eyes shine with a mixture of emotions as she leans into my kiss. I taste her hesitation and growing desire, the clash of her innocent self with the darkness bubbling inside her. She wants to embrace it; I can feel it. But fear holds her back, the remnants of her innocence, afraid to fully surrender to this new, intense world we’ve entered together.

“He deserves it,” I murmur against her lips, my hands pulling her closer. “After what he did to you, the pain he caused.”

I feel her shudder at my words, her breath catching in her throat. “I know,” she whispers. “It’s just... so dark. So final.”

I pull back slightly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “You wanted revenge, and I’m giving it to you. Together, we’ll make him pay for his sins against you.”

She bites her lip, her eyes darting away before returning to meet mine. “What exactly are we going to do to him?”

A slow smile spreads and twists my lips. “We’ll tie him up. This time, the power will be in our hands. He’ll be helpless while we do whatever we please.”

Lena’s eyes widen at the imagery my words evoke. “And then?”

Stepping closer, I whisper, “Then we’ll take our time. We’ll make him watch as we revel in each other, joined as one, whilehe slowly bleeds out. Alone and helpless, he’ll realize too late that his power is gone.”

She swallows, her chest rising and falling with the rapid beat of her heart. I see the conflict in her eyes, the battle between her darker impulses and her lingering innocence. “Are you sure about this? About me?”

Leaning down, I capture her lips in a searing kiss that conveys all the certainty I feel. “You’re mine, Lena. Embrace it. Embrace the darkness, and let it consume you. Together, we’ll burn brighter than ever before.”

Her arms wrap around my neck, her body pressing against mine as she returns my kiss with equal fervor. I feel her hesitation melting away, replaced by a fierce hunger. Lena is fully present in this moment, her eyes filled with determination and a dark, alluring light.

“I’m ready.” She breathes the words, her fingers threading through my hair. “Let’s show him what happens when he messes with us.”

Her voice holds a confident edge that sends a rush of satisfaction through me. I pull her closer, our bodies aligning, our hearts pounding in unison.

“Tonight,” I promise. “Tonight, we set our plan in motion, and Wilson gets what’s coming to him.”

The darkness inside me pulses with anticipation as I watch Lena. Her hands tremble slightly as she applies makeup, but determination burns in her eyes. She’s embracing the shadows now, letting them seep into her soul like they did mine all those years ago.

Mr. Wilson thought he could break us. He used his power and his connections to keep us under his thumb. But he never understood what he was creating. Every blow, every cruel word, every time he touched her—it all fed something deeper, darker within me.

I remember the first time I saw him lay hands on her. The rage that filled me wasn’t just protective—it was possessive. Primal. She was mine to protect, control, and love in my own twisted way. That bastard’s greatest mistake was thinking he could take what belonged to me.

David’s death was just the beginning. I can still feel the satisfaction of driving the blade into his flesh, watching the realization in his eyes of what happens when you touch what’s mine. But Mr. Wilson deserves something special that will make him understand the true meaning of powerlessness.

Watching Lena now, I see the same darkness reflecting in her eyes. She’s no longer that innocent girl he tried to break. She’s become beautiful and deadly, like a rose with poisoned thorns. My perfect match in this dance.

How she moves, preparing herself for our performance tonight, sends electricity through my veins. She knows what’s coming, knows the role she has to play, and still chooses this path—chooses me. The monster turned out to be her salvation.

Mr. Wilson has no idea what’s coming for him. He’ll open that door expecting to find a vulnerable girl he can manipulate. Instead, he’ll find the instrument of his destruction wrapped in a package of false innocence. And I’ll be there, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Tonight, we’ll paint our love story in shades of crimson, and our abuser’s screams will be our symphony.

38

LENA

My knuckles rap against the wood, echoing through the still evening air. I stand before the familiar door, my heart hammering against my ribs as the clock strikes seven. My cell phone is in the apartment back in Boston as I couldn’t have my cell place me here on the night Mr. Wilson goes missing. But I feel oddly vulnerable without it.

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