Page 77 of Sinful Skulls
She covers her face with both of her hands and begins to tremble with emotion. “I think my biological father was evil,” she whispers.
Internally, I reach for my dominant side. The one that stands strong for her. She’s confiding the darkest parts of herself to me.I begin to pet her hair, splaying my fingers wide over her chest, resting more weight there to keep her calm.
Her trust draws me further in love.
“I think his entire family was … is …”
That one word tells me everything I need to know. Theisis her uncle. The dean of that motherfucking art school.
This is why it’s important to listen to every word.
Daisy is like a puzzle, and I’m willing to spend my entire life trying to solve it. I cup her chin in the palm of my hand when she doesn’t continue.
“You are not evil, Daisy.”
Her eyes blink open, and she stares at me. “How can I be sure?”
The way my chest squeezes at the pain on her face makes me take a deep breath. I want to hunt down whoever put it there …
The dean.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Daisy
Irecognize the murderous glint in his eye. I’m okay with that. I want to see him hurt my uncle. I want to watch him burn his entire sick gallery to the ground.
But I also don’t want that. I would do anything to protect Brody. I’d never risk him going to jail for me.
His big hand rubs circles over my chest as he thinks about how to answer my question of how can I be certain I’m not evil.
“I mean, you saw what I did to that girl.” I bite my bottom lip as a little thrill runs up my spine at the memory.
“You were protecting something. That’s different. Have you ever wanted to hurt someone who wasn’t a threat to your well-being?”
“Well, no, of course not.”Okay, I get his point.“But I hurt her, and she hadn’t physically done anything to me.”
He chuckles, that sexy smile pulling up the corner of his mouth. “Oh, but she was hurting you. She was sticking a knife right in the center of this thing.” He taps a finger over my heart.
The thought of her placing her hands on his chest has tears springing to my eyes. It’s true. It killed me to see him with someone else.
“You’re not evil. You just feel deeply, and sometimes that calls you to look away from the light. You might get stuck in the dark caverns for a bit, but you don’t stay there. It’s what I love about you. You continue to look for beauty despite the darkness. It keeps the light inside you shining, and you’re able to pull yourself out.”
“I don’t want to be like them.” I begin to cry, letting it all out.
“You’re not. I promise you, you’re not.”
I cry louder.
“Sit up,” he orders calmly.
He leans back and reaches in his pocket, pulling out his knife. When he flips it open and hands it to me, the room begins to spin. He doesn’t know what he’s risking. He doesn’t know who my family really is.
Gently, he wraps my fingers around the handle, forcing me to take it from him. He sets his forearm across my lap and looks me in the eye. “Cut me.”
I jerk my hand away from him. “No.”
“It’s an order.” He leans over and kisses me. I open my mouth to him, easily seduced by the sway of his tongue. He holds my gaze hostage as he pulls away. “Do it, Daisy. I want you to cut me.”
