Page 109 of I Am Salvation

Diana’s eyelids quiver. “Your mother’s a mess, Dragon. I’m so sorry you grew up that way. I wish I could change it all for you, but you know what? If you hadn’t grown up that way, you wouldn’t be you. You wouldn’t be the man I fell in love with.”

“So you don’t believe I’m evil.”

“I never did, Dragon.” She runs her hand up and down my neck, massaging it gently. “I never did.”

I pull her to me, kiss her sweet lips. “I love you, Diana.”

Her eyes brighten up. “You do?”

I nod. “I’ve never said those words before. Not to anyone. At least not since I was nine years old.”

She smiles then.

And my heart, for the first time in a while, feels lighter. Despite the fact that I know we have a hard road ahead of us, finding Griffin.

“Then I’m honored you chose to say them to me.”

“I’m not sure I ever knew there was anyone in the world like you, Diana. Maybe the closest is Jesse. He’s been such a good friend to me, and for him to forgive me after I nearly cost the band the European tour…” I shake my head. “But that’s simple friendship. You? It’s a whole other level.”

“I’m glad you feel more for me than you do for Jesse.” She chuckles.

I frown. “Yeah, that didn’t come out right.”

“It’s okay. I know what you mean. And I know you love Jesse in a different kind of way. He’s your best friend, your confidante. And he loves you in the same way.”

“Right. Exactly.”

She doesn’t speak for a moment, just looking into my eyes. There’s an angelic light around her, almost like a halo. Finally, she breaks the silence.

“Dragon?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry I went to see your mother without asking.”

“It’s all right.”

“And I will never ask you what happened to you. But you should probably tell someone.”

“You’re the first person I told about what I did to Tully.”

“So Jesse and your therapist only know about Griffin?”

I nod.

“Then again, I’m honored.”

I kiss her again. I want to tell her everything. Not in any kind of excruciating detail, but maybe she’s right.

Getting it out is the first step in healing.

I pull her close to me again, kiss the shell of her ear, and I begin.

Chapter Thirty

Diana

I gulp back my tears as Dragon describes what he went through at the hand of Tully and five others.

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