Page 27 of Love Triggered

“I killed him,” he says blankly, and I stumble backward.

Did he just say he killed him? Did he really just admit to that?

I know his father was a monster, but I never thought he’d actually kill him. I’m so shocked, I don’t even know what to say back. I have so many questions, but nothing comes out of my mouth. Standing here in front of him, all I can do is gape with wide eyes.

Greyson is here, and he just admitted to murdering his father. The fact that he had no reservations about telling me, and absolutely no regret in his eyes, should scare me, but I’m not sure it does. His father deserved whatever hell was coming to him, so I can’t find it in myself to feel an ounce of sadness about Greyson killing him.

Pulling myself together, I cross my hands over my chest, and his eyes follow my movement. The heat of his stare causes my heart to jackhammer in my chest. I can’t help but notice how it affects me differently than any other man.

“Just go.” It’s all I can manage to say at this point. My entire body is trembling from the shock of seeing him and hearing his admission. I’m torn between being terrified and proud of him for taking out his father.

Greyson drops to his knees and reaches for my hand, as his eyes stay locked on mine. I’m not sure why, but I let him take it. His touch is gentle under his rough, calloused hands.

For such a strong man, he’s showing just how weak I make him. His skin on mine doesn’t repulse me the way I thought it would after nine years of being sold to the highest bidder of the night. The bile doesn’t rise out of my stomach like I expected. I don’t want him to let go.

He’s on his knees, pleading for me to give him a chance. Most men wouldn’t be caught dead in this position, but he’s doing it willingly, kneeling before me, letting me know I have the control. I have the power to bind us together or rip us apart for the last time.

My heart screams to hear him out, but my head won’t let me. For some strange reason, his touch seems to calm me, but I can’t just let go of everything that happened.

Eventually, I could probably move past what happened that last day, because I know he didn’t want to touch me like that, but everything that happened after? I’m not sure there’s anything that would make me forget long enough to let him back in.

“Greyson, don’t make this harder than it has to be. Leave, and forget you saw me.” My voice is just a whisper as I slowly pull my hand from his. The loss of his touch sends a pang of sadness through me, but it’s for the best. His head drops in defeat, as I think he finally understands I’m not budging.

He rises to his feet, with his head still bowed. I can’t bear to see him like this, so unsure, so confused. He raises his head, and I see the resolve in his eyes.

"Angel, I’ll go for now, because you asked me to, but I’ll never stop fighting for you. Fighting for us. Wewillbe together. This time I’ll do it right, but I’m not letting you go. You don’t get to shut me out without even giving me a chance. I’ll see you very soon.”

With that, he walks toward the entrance, leaving me gaping at where he was just standing. His voice was laced with promise and determination to have me. Part of me wants that, but another part of me wants to run screaming and never come back.

One thing seems clear. No matter where I go, Greyson will find me. He’ll follow me to the end of the world and never let go. I don’t know what’s more terrifying, the fact that he won’t ever stop or the fact that I’m not sure I want him to.

I’ve been sitting in my driveway for about an hour now, because I can’t bring myself to get out and go inside. The car is off, I'm just sitting here in the quiet with my hands clenched around the steering wheel. My knuckles are as white as snow from how hard I’m gripping it, and my eyes are squeezed shut.

She saw me in the library and turned me away. The girl I’ve been pining after for so long… she hates me. Her rejection hurts more than any punishment my father used to inflict.

She turned me away even after I got down on my knees and begged her to listen. I never beg. I never even say please, but there’s something about this girl. She makes me soft. She makes me weak, but I’ll accept that weakness if it means an eternity in her presence.

She fucking hates me.

I figured she would, but actually knowing that she does kills me.

I punch the steering wheel repeatedly, busting my knuckles open as blood smears all over the wheel. It looks like a three year old made a finger painting.

I know I deserve it for what I did to her the day before my father sold her, but it still rips me to shreds. Will she ever understand that I had to do it? I had to touch her to save her from him. He would’ve torn her little body up, and she never would’ve recovered.

My heart feels like it has been ripped out of my chest and stomped on. The only person in this world that I’ve ever loved—the only person to ever make me feel anything besides pain—doesn’t want me. I have no purpose without her. She has always been my end goal and if she won’t even give me a chance, I’m not sure what else I have to give or offer.

The thought of her not being in my life makes my stomach churn.

I need to get out of here and get a damn drink to numb my pain. Finally sliding out of the car, I walk inside the house, heading straight for the kitchen. I take a look around at my empty house. It has all the fancy, modern shit, some furniture and a ridiculous fireplace, but there’s no art, no pictures, nothing personal.

I’m here in this house alone. I don’tneeda fucking three-story house with seven bedrooms just for myself. I think all these years I’ve been holding out hope that I’d find Lainey, and we’d get married and have enough children to make this place actually feel like home.

Looks like that was all a fantasy.

I knew the second she looked into my eyes that she recognized me. Her beautiful hazels widened with surprise as her eyebrows scrunched and her mouth dropped open. Her reaction sent my heart into a frenzy. But she saw me and didn’t even want to hear me out, so there’s no way we’ll be on the marriage and baby train anytime soon.

I need to get her to trust me first.

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