Page 59 of Beg Me Angel

And I still took their fate into my hands even though I could have turned my head the other way.

It was wrong on so many levels, it became a power that curdled my blood thick like tar and made me breathe sins not miracles.

To smile at the death of another, to crave destruction instead of harmony. . .What kind of monster was I?

This cabin, this home, I built it to save the innocent. I couldn't make a promise I couldn't keep, and I couldn't promise that I wouldn't hurt anyone else ever again.

But then my angel came to me, she showed me I could still give to another. That I was still a man inside, a man with morals and feelings. She gave that all back to me.

Now I couldn't let her go.

What will happen to me if she's gone?

What would I do if she wasn't here?

That was a thought I couldn't deal with. There was no doubt in my mind that if Vera was found, if she was returned to her family, I'd lose it all.

And I'd lose myself as I fell back into the abyss of hatred.

“I want to do something different today.” Pressing my nose into her hair, I let the strands spill over my face as I took in a slow breath.

“Oh yeah.” Rolling over, Vera ran her fingers down over my temple, leading them into my beard. “And what's that?” she asked as she stroked the hair and looked up at my face with sleep in her eyes.

The way she was looking at me was changing. It was what I had wanted to see and needed to see. Vera's big green, almond-shaped eyes were listening to me as I spoke, they would stay on me longer and longer each time.

I'm finally finding my place in her heart.

“I was thinking—” Cutting myself off, I perched my head to listen.

Is that? No, it can't be.

“What, what is it?” she asked, rolling to face the door and pushing up onto her elbow.

“Shh, did you hear that?” I had thought I heard the sound of rocks popping and gravel being pushed away by tires. But that couldn't be right.

Is someone here?

No. No one comes here.

“Hear what?” Lifting her head, we both sat quiet.

I didn't hear anything anymore, the outside was still and soundless with the occasional whistle of wind slipping through the wood beams. “Nothing, I—”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The front door vibrated under heavy pounds as two voices, muffled and low, talked between themselves outside.

Who the fuck is that?

Both of us froze in place at the same time, listening cautiously. Looking at me over her shoulder, Vera's eyes grew wide. “Who's here?”

Wrapping my fingers around her arm, I gave it a reassuring squeeze. “It's probably no one, maybe a hunter trying to see if they can hunt here.” Kissing the top of her head, I climbed out of bed, grabbing my jeans from off the floor. “Stay here, I'll go send them on their way.”

Forcing out a confident smile, Vera snuggled up under the blanket, lifting it to her shoulders and smiling back with a nod.

I wasn't too sure in my answer. Everyone around knew better, they wouldn't step foot at the end of my driveway, never mind come right up to my door.

Walking to the entrance, I adjusted my pants and buttoned them up. No one else had come to my door since the first week I started building the place.

---