Page 39 of Save Me

Chapter 27

STARLET

When Argent told meto take my mother and leave, I knew exactly what he meant. My mother and I never got along, but after everything she told me that day, I felt so bad for her because I knew exactly how she felt.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around who my real father is. Dalton Storm, aka Dane Storm’s father. The same man who was working with Zavier and my psychologist.

I have no idea if he knows but I don’t think now is the time to show up at his office again and tell him ‘Hey, guess what? You’re my half-brother’.

Maybe one day, I'll muster up the courage to locate my real father, but for now, I want to relish in the fact that I'm finally free. Free of every person that has ever hurt me.

As for my mother and sister—we picked my sister up from a friend after we left the house and I took them to the airport. Mom decided to head back to Alaska. She's done with my 'father' for good—well obviously since Argent made sure of that.

She couldn’t stop apologizing for everything my ‘father’ did and for all the years she was so hard on me. Shockingly, I forgave her immediately. She’s my mother and I will always love her, even though she can be a bitch sometimes.

Don’t get me started on the earful I got from Chloe when I got home. I don’t blame her for freaking out because killing someone wasn’t exactly on my bucket list. But then again, neither was being kidnapped, but here we are.

She’s cooled off since then but Demitri and Adrian keep making jokes about it and how they know not to fuck with me from now on.

The news bulletin that blares from the television interrupts my thoughts.

‘The manhunt for Zavier Olsen, who was the suspect in the kidnapping of a local woman, as well as multiple homicide cases over the country, has come to an end as the local police discovered his body this morning. According to the leading investigator, it seems that Mr. Olsen was in hiding in a cabin in a secluded area and what looks to have been attacked by some sort of animal.’

“You hear that, Starlet? You’re an animal.” Demitri jokes from the kitchen and I can’t help but chuckle and roll my eyes at him.

Throughout this whole fucked up situation, I grew closer to Demitri as well. He's the big brother I never had—or should I say, I never wanted. He's a handful and I don't know how Chloe keeps up with him.

“Yeah, she is.” Argent chimes in, giving me a wink and I feel my cheeks heat up. Shaking my head, I glance at Chloe and she’s already looking at me.

“Everything alright?” I ask. Her smile widened, placing her hand on top of mine, and at that moment, I knew that despite the chaos and darkness that hadenveloped our lives, we would find solace and strength in each other.

“Yeah. That bastard got what was coming to him.”

Returning the smile, I glance around the room and I can't help but feel a sense of disbelief. There's so much love in this house.

Adrian and Demitri giving each other shit in the kitchen which has me chuckling. Chloe laughing along with the boys and most of all. Argent.

The way he looks at me. He has never stopped looking at me the way he does. It all started with a creep sneaking in through my window and now, I can't imagine my life without him.

I love him. And he actually loves me too. He made it clear he would kill for me and God help me, I will do the same for him.

Chapter 28

ARGENT

* 3 MONTHS LATER *

“What if she says no?”

“Would you just calm down, man? Jesus. She’s not going to say no.” There are a few moments in a man’s life that get you stressed out enough to make you pass out and this is one of them.

Asking the love of your life to marry you and fearing they might say no.

Demitri raises an eyebrow and asks, “By the way, when are you going to ask Starlet to marry you?” I chuckle nervously, the sound barely escaping my lips.

“She’s finishing her degree, and I don’t want to add any more pressure. But believe me, there’s nothing I want more than to give her my last name.” It’s true. I can’t wait to marry that girl. But she wants a career and I’m not going to stand in the way of that.

I give Demitri a friendly pat on the shoulder, urging him, “Now, grow a pair and get out there and be the man Chloe needs you to be.” Together, we exit the bathroom and make our way back to the table.