Page 89 of Moth to a Flame

In this room, with her crying beneath me, there’s only Regan. I have to take care of her before I do anything else. I won’t leave this place, this very room, until I’m sure I’ve done everything I could for her.

“Listen to me. You are so brave. So wonderful. I love you even more than I thought possible. Tell me you understand.”

“But you said…You talked about putting babies inside of me.”

We would have a thorough, mindful discussion about our options later. If she wanted to. Only if Regan wanted to.

Not now.

Now she needs to know I’m hers no matter what. That I couldn’t stay away from her even if I tried.

Which I won’t. She’s my everything. Perfect and wonderful just the way she is.

And I’m going to make her see that.

“I said I wouldn’t leave you for the world, either, right?” I wait for her to nod. She doesn’t leave me hanging for too long. “Said I wouldn’t love you any less. You matter. You. This doesn’t change any of it. I’m as in love, as obsessed, and as insane about you as I was a second ago. And I’ll prove it. Let me prove it to you.”

Her silence is deafening. I can’t stand it.

“I’m still here. Always.” I kiss her, a soft brush of my lips against hers. “But I’m going to get up for a second, okay? I have something to give you.”

She’s a wounded animal, and I treat her like one. Even though I’m a murderous motherfucker. Even though the need to burn and slash and disembowel is ever strong. I’m being gentle.

“Don’t leave me.” Her grip on my neck tightens. Eyes open wide, panicked. “Please.”

“I’m not leaving you, damn it. Ever. I’m even taking you with me. Home. Consider this your formal notice, Regan. You’re moving in with me.”

Panic transforms into confusion. “What?”

“Moving in.” She’s about to protest. I’m not having it. “I’ll kidnap you if it comes down to that. Drive you back here to work every morning, shackle myself to you. Bring you back to our home each evening.”

“Rosemary. And Mojo. I won’t leave them.”

“You’ll see them every day. I swear you will. Want me to buy the house next door to us for her? Would that make you feel better about it? Not a fucking problem. I’ll do it. I’ll do anything for you.” Never thought I’d have that again, a family. But Regan gives it to me, and I’ll never turn her down. I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy. “You’re mine, and you’re going to move in with me. Where it’s safe. Where it’s…nice.”

At the change of my tone, her nose scrunches. She looks even more confused than before. “What’s wrong with your home being nice?”

“This isn’t a conversation for tonight.” Fuck if anything about tonight is going to be about me. “I have something to give you. I’ve been saving it for tomorrow, and it’s in my bag. I’ll be right back.”

“He’ll have a parole hearing soon,” she says when I’m already out of bed.

Great fucking news. I hope they fucking let this monster out so I can have my way with him.

I look over my shoulder at her. “Just another reason for you to move out of here. It’s not safe.”

The locks in this apartment are a joke. Mojo, bless his yapping heart, isn’t any better, despite his size. Yeah, they trained him to bite and attack any threats.

One shot to the head and he’s gone.

Regan belongs behind stone walls, top-of-the-line locks, and an advanced security system. With me.

“Okay,” she mumbles, sitting up on the bed. “Okay.”

“Good girl.”

With my sweats pulled up, I go to my backpack and fish out the photo I’ve been holding on to over the last few days. Holding it close to my chest, I climb on the bed and tuck Regan to my side.

“This is one body part you’re never going to have. I had the guards shred it after they snatched it from the prison’s bathroom floor.”

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