Page 166 of Beautiful Fiend

“Don’t…” The moment a sob comes out, numerous others follow. I’m shaking so violently, his hard chest hurts against my neck.

I choke when his hand grips harder on my throat. “Say it, Billie.”

The edge of my vision narrows, and I shake my head again.

A siren is heard down the street, and I feel his head snapping to the side, probably looking at the other end of the alley.

“Say it!” he rages, crushing my windpipes.

“Y-you…” I cry, “k-killed…Caden, I love you, please.”

“Finish that sentence,” he says, death controlling his voice.

“You killed him,” I blurt out. If this is our last moment together, no matter what happens next, I want to be able to look into his eyes.

"Good girl,” he exhales, anxiety seeping out of him. He lets me go, grabs my shoulders, and turns me around. “Good girl,” he repeats with a broad smile on his face. “You’re so strong, Billie. Fucking unbeatable.”

"Stop,” I shake my head.

“Billie,” someone calls out as they run down the alley. My face snaps to Xi running to us.

“No…” I sob. “Don’t. Caden,don’t.” He must have been texting Xi in the car. He knew what he was doing all along.

“I love you so fucking much, you know that?” he rasps.

“No!” I shout, anger coursing through my body. I hate him for sacrificing himself again. Behind us, Xi uses his keys to unlock one of the garage doors.

“There.” I point at the garage hopelessly. I already know he’s going to refuse. “We can all hide in there.”

“Billie,” Caden shakes his head. “If they don’t find someone to blame, they will keep searching. I can’t risk your career, your chance to get away, yourfreedom. The world is yours, baby.”

“I don’t care about any of that!. You can’t do this. You said the world wasours,you…fucking liar!”

Smiling softly at me, he squats and brings his palm to the ground, tapping twice.

Our gesture to stop it all. Our version of a safe word.

“No,” I force between clenched teeth. “You don’t get to tap out.”

Instead of defending himself, he wraps an arm around my waist and cups the back of my head with his other hand. He slams his lips against mine and kisses me like there is no tomorrow.

Like it’s the last time.

“Remember, baby. The sun never stops shining above the clouds,” he whispers against my lips as we separate. “No matter what comes our way, I’ll never stop loving you.”

Xi grabs my upper arm and drags me away. “Come on, they’re going to be here any second. Let’s go.”

“No, no, no,” I explode into tears again. “Caden!”

“We’re going to meet again, little bee. I promise you,” he smiles. “Somewhere far from this shitty town.There.” True hope shines in his eyes. The misleading kind. The betraying hope that makes people do crazy, unfixable things.

I fight Xi, but he doesn’t even give me a chance. He grabs me by the waist from the back in a bear-like hug and lifts me off the ground, carrying me with him. He holds me tightly as he pulls the garage door down.

Caden is smiling as he disappears, and I take him in one last time. His beautiful, messy hair, and those piercing green eyes. I don’t think he realizes that he’s rubbing his hand just below his heart, exactly where his tattoo of a bee is.

Just as the door shuts, as if they had all conspired against me, the siren gets louder, and I see blue and red lights from under the door.

All I can do now is listen.

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