Page 62 of Forever Filthy

“Amen to that,” Nova adds. We spend an hour chatting with Tate before she leaves to get ready for work. David takes his leave with her and promises to check in a couple of days. Nova and I wave him off. Nova and I spend the rest of the night hanging out and watching rom coms to keep our minds off the men who took hold of our hearts. She tells me stories about what she and Vox have been up to while we were separated but I’ll be honest, I’m more interested in the stories she tells me about her and Ez.

Novaand I have the day to ourselves since David isn’t coming over. He wants to keep changing his routine so no one can track him here. During the day we only have two guards while the others head home to rest up for the evening shift. I feel bad for them having to stand outside all night. With it being too cold out we rule out swimming, I don’t care if it's heated or not it's too cold today. It's overcast and windy as hell. I can hear the wind howling and that shit scares me. I would much rather be tucked up in bed cuddling Hayze while Ez plays with my hair and Archer runs his hands over me?—

“You have that faraway look in your eyes.” I shake my head to clear away my thoughts as I face Nova.

“I was just thinking about the guys,” I admit.

She smiles and winks. “Finally ready to admit you're in love with my brother, Hayze and Archer?”

My lungs deflate but a smile spreads across my face. “Yeah. I am so fucking head over heels for them and it scares the hell out of me.”

Nova stares at me with a knowing look. “Someone once told me,sometimes you have to fall in order to know where youstand. I kind of think that person might know what he is talking about because when I fell, I was terrified but at the same time so excited at the prospect of what we could become.”

“My brother said that, didn't he?” She chuckles and nods.

“Yeah. Yeah he did but it doesn’t make it any less true.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m scared of them hurting me again,” I blurt out. Her eyes soften as she makes her way toward me, then grabs both my hands and holds them.

“Love hurts but it is the greatest pain we will ever feel in our lives, because having the power to love and be loved is what makes life so special. We only get one chance at living, so embrace that bitch and dive head first into whatever this is you have with them. Life is too short and I don’t want you to waste a minute of it.”

“How the hell am I going to handle three of them?”

Nova laughs and this one is a full belly laugh that has me smiling wide. “Girl, I can barely handle your brother and there is only one of him. Good luck to you and RIP to your pussy because if those guys are anything like Vox, you won’t be getting any more sleep.” I cringe at the mention of my brother.

“You suck at pep talks, you know that, right?”

She just shrugs. “This isn’t a pep talk, this is me telling you to let go of your past and embrace your future. Live in the moment, Vivian. I don’t know about you, but this past year has shown me that loving your brother has made my world so much brighter. On my down days he is my strength, when I need to be held he is always there. Fuck what people say or think about you four, they are only jealous because you have the three of those boys eating out of your palm and ready to jump when you tell them.”

“God, I miss them,” I admit.

Sadness clouds her green eyes. “Ditto. But I miss Vox the most, it's so hard not having him with me every second of every day.”

“You really do love my brother, don’t you?”

Her eyes turn misty. “More than he will ever know. He isn’t just the boy who stole my heart, he is my… person. With him by my side I know I can get through anything. Not having him with me right now kills me because he is my go to, he is the person I turn to for everything and it feels strange to be without him again after so long.”

“I’m so sorry you are back in this shit because of me.”

“I’m not. That motherfucker took my world from me and his cunt of a kid stole my best friend and robbed him of life, so I want them to pay. I need to put the past to bed as much as you do. I have been living half a life since we left here, always terrified they would show up and blow my life apart.”

“We end this,” I promise.

“I swear on my life I will look after them.”

“I know you will just please… don’t let them hate me,” I plead.

She pulls me in for a hug. “They can’t hate what makes them breathe. You are the air they need to survive. Without you, they have nothing.”

Chapter Thirty

Vivian

The feeling of being watched has me snapping my eyes open. I remain still and try to calm my racing heart. You know the feeling you get when someone is standing behind you? Yeah, I have that feeling right now. My stomach is in my throat, fear is clutching me in its vice-like hold, strangling the air from my lungs. I draw on all the strength I can muster and sit up but keep my gaze ahead trying to garner myself some time to prepare for what is about to happen. I don’t need superpowers to know this feeling isn’t a figment of my imagination, IknowI am not alone in my bedroom.

I exhale slowly, then turn my head. I bite back my scream, I knew he was there but a part of me still wanted to doubt my gut feeling. I can’t do that now that I have locked eyes with themonster. His sinister smile is filled with pure malice. He steps forward and is illuminated by the moonlight trickling in through the windows.

His green eyes look hollow, soulless. His black hair is a mess and just adds to the unhinged aura he has clinging to him. I run my gaze over him and instantly regret dropping my gaze. My breath hitches and lodges in my throat.

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