Page 107 of Darkest Retribution

We both jump when we hear a gunshot.

Then there’s a scream.

Begging—Grant’s voice.

Another scream, and then another gunshot.

It takes a minute for Dominic to come back out, but when he does, he immediately takes Rosie from me.

“I need to get her home,” I say.

“Then let’s go. Felix and Willow have David, and they’re not letting him out of their sight. Felix will text me once...” He glances at Rosie uneasily. “You know.”

I nod. I’m not sure why Willow wants to be the one to kill David, but I don’t care. If she wants him, she can have him.

I’m just glad it doesn’t have to be me.

. . .

Once we’re home, I give Rosie a bath, washing out the blood that got into her hair. Then I put her to bed in my room. Dom and I stay with her until she’s asleep, clutching her second-favorite stuffed unicorn to her chest. I have to wash her other one thoroughly before giving it back to her—ifI can get the blood stains out.

Dominic was dead silent the entire car ride home, and he’s quiet while we watch Rosie fall asleep. Once her breathing deepens, I nod toward the door, and we quietly make our way out.

I head downstairs, and he follows. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but my guess is that he’s mad.

In the kitchen, I turn to him. It’s the first time my focus isn’t on Rosie, which is probably why I finally notice the blood soaking through the cut sleeve of Dom’s jacket.

“You’re bleeding.”

He looks down, shrugging off his jacket. “Yeah. Got cut. It’s not as bad as it looks.”

“Hold on.” I grab the first aid kit from the bathroom. “Can I... do you mind if I help you?”

For the first time since we entered into our arrangement, I’m afraid to touch him. He hasn’t left my side since he came out of the library at David’s safe house, but I wasn’t sure if it was for me or Rosie.

I used him. I lied to him.I almost killed him.There’s no way he’s okay with all that.

But Dominic nods, hoisting himself up onto the counter next to the sink. I clean the gash on his arm silently before bandaging it up.

There’s so much I want to say—so much Ineedto say—but I don’t know where to start. With the questions I have? That feels wrong.Ishould be the one doing the most explaining tonight.

Maybe an apology.

As I wash my hands, Dom slips off the counter, disappearing behind me. It takes everything in me to hold back my tears.

He’s going to leave. You fucked this one up too badly.

I expect to hear the door opening and closing, but instead I feel his hands on my hips and his body pressing mine into the counter. His lips meet my neck in a tender kiss.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he says. “But I need you to know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m in this with you, Jade. And I love you, too.”

I can’t help the sob that’s ripped from my throat. I’ve been trying to hold back my emotions for too long, too many years, and Dominic has this uncanny way of breaking down my walls.

When the second sob comes, I grip the edge of the counter, letting my tears fall into the sink.

“Jade.” Dom turns me around, taking my face in his hands.

“I didn’t want for it to get this messy,” I say, and it comes out all wobbly. “I wasn’t supposed to develop feelings for you. But now that I have, I don’t want to let you go.”

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