Page 66 of His to Destroy

I go straight to her.

Almeria’s in the sunroom, curled up with a book she’s probably not even reading. The way her body tenses the second she sees me tells me she feels it too—the storm rolling off me.

I stop just inside the doorway, giving us time to stare at each other for a long, weighted moment.

She sets the book down carefully.

“Gaspare,” she says quietly. “What happened?”

I step closer.

Every instinct in me screams to lie. To shield her. To spare her the ugliness.

But lies are what broke us before.

I won’t make that mistake again.

“I found him,” I say roughly. “The man responsible.”

Her eyes widen slightly.

“The man who…?” She trails off, unable to finish.

I nod. Her hands grip the edges of the chair tightly.

“Who was it?” she whispers. “Someone you know?”

I clench my fists at my sides.

“Stark.”

The name hangs between us like a death sentence.

She blinks, confusion knitting her brows. “The name doesn’t sound familiar to me.”

“He was my right hand man. Second in command. Disappeared a year ago without reason.”

Almeria swallows and looks away, but before she does, I can see the tears that have gathered in her eyes.

“He came with you that night, right?”

I nod, even though she’s not looking at me. I move closer until I’m standing in front of her, taking her trembling hands in mine.

“I’m sorry, Almeria,” I say, voice cracking. “I’m sorry I didn’t see it. Sorry I trusted him. Sorry I left you alone that night.”

Her eyes fill with tears she continues to blink back stubbornly.

“I’m going to make it right,” I promise her. “I swear it. I’m going to destroy him for what he did.”

A single tear escapes, sliding down her cheek.

I wipe it away with my thumb, my heart breaking at the trust she’s still willing to give me even now.

“No more lies,” I whisper. “No more shadows. I’m yours. Body and soul. Always.”

She closes her eyes, a shuddering breath escaping her lips.

And in that moment, I know—

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