Page 76 of Savage Scream

She giggles. “The knife is Thana. That’s what I call her. And the Angels gave her to me.”

“Hold up. You have a name for your knife?”

She nods against my chest. “Thana means death. I thought it suitable since she sends so many to their deaths.”

I chuckle. “Dee, you do know thatyouare the one that does that.”

I feel her shrug. “Not without Thana.”

We fall silent for a few moments, and I know she’s stewing over everything that happened tonight. Especially the stuff with the Angels. Her fucking aunties.

“Talk to me.” I urge, and she sighs and shakes her head. “Dee, I know you’re a solitary person. I know you like to hold your secrets close to your heart, but you don’t have to. Not when you have me. Let me carry them with you.”

She squeezes me then, and a sob escapes her, telling me that she’s crying.

Shit.

I didn’t want to make her cry, but then I guess everything she learned is a lot to unpack.

“So you had no idea you were related to the Angel sisters?” I ask, and she sniffs, shaking her head against my chest again. “Do you think they are telling the truth?”

This time she nods against my chest, but she still doesn’t speak.

“It means they are Travis’ aunties, too. Don’t you think it’s weird they haven’t been more concerned about him?”

Again, she nods against my chest.

“Does…” I trail off, not sure if I should ask this question, but when Dee pops her head up, her tear-filled eyes connecting with mine, I can’tnotask. “Does this change anything with you leaving?”

Her face falls momentarily, and she shrugs.

“Because you know, I’d really like you to stay. For good.”

There, I put it out there. I told her how I feel.

Her face softens, and a small smile tugs at the corners of her lips, but she tries to hide it.

Fuck. Does she like the sound of that? Of staying?

I don’t find out though, because she rests her head back on my chest, giving me a squeeze before she falls asleep.

Fuck, I want her to stay so bad it hurts.

I don’t want to say that to her, though. I don’t want to make her feel like she has to stay, or feel bad because she has to leave. I just want her to want to stay and decide to do it.

I try to imagine what life would be like with Dee forever by my side, and a grin tugs at my lips.

She would frustrate the crap outta me. I know that much. But it won’t matter, because that’s part of what we have together. The push and the pull. The taunting and teasing. The silence and the loud moments.

I’ve changed so much since the car wreck. The anger I’d been feeling only a matter of weeks ago seems to have disappeared. For some reason, which probably has everything to do with Dee, I feel more at peace.

I glance down at her in my arms, her head tilted up to me while she sleeps on my chest. She looks so innocent right now. So sweet, like she couldn’t hurt a fly.

I know better, of course, but it doesn’t change the fact that underneath the armour she wears, she’s nothing more than a girl wanting to build a life.

The question is, will that life be with me?

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