Page 78 of Savage Sin

He’s finally dead.

My chest unlocks and I can finally breathe again.

Rage is on his knees beside me and I’m in his arms. No words. Just heavy breathing and silent understanding for several long minutes. Long enough for the people back at the compound to come out, hands loaded with guns.

Seconds and we are surrounded.

Ares comes to stand over me, takes one look at my side and the very much dead asshole. “Glad to see the better person won.”

“Thanks to Rage.”

Harsh inhale.

Shakey exhale.

“Thebastardoput a tracker in me. There’s no telling who else is out there.” I cast about, looking for lurking shadows. I can feel their eyes on us. It’s eerily silent. No crickets or little fireflies to be heard or seen.

My eyes drift open and closed. The Savage brothers move in unison and fan out. Guns go off. I stop counting how many rounds pop off after the first fifteen. Cortes had brought a small army with him and meant to kill the people who I’ve come to like.

Riot pulls back from the tree line and Ares is right behind him, getting Rage off the ground. He looks weak, sweating like crazy from the effort of coming to save me, no doubt.

Riot gently lifts me off the ground and when we get back to the little house, I’m the one on the hard metal bed getting stitches this time.

Rage is beside me and watching everything Riot does to clean the wound and start on a fresh set of stitches. Someone is hooking up an IV. God, let it be pain medication.

My eyes won’t open, but my mouth works just fine.

“We need a plan and a hunter. As soon as Silas learns of Cortes’ death, he’ll go on the defensive.”

“My little warrior.” Rage brushes the hair from my face and his lips are at my ear. “SleepPrincessa, we will plan our revenge once you wake.”

I give myself over the darkness pulling me under and this time I do it willingly, knowing I have a Savage at my back who loves me.

Epilogue One

Persephone

We are taught from the moment we can walk that sinning will lead to a seat in the depths of hell.

You know what? I’m not so sure I agree. Not for everyone, anyway. I can only hope it is for my father and now Cortes.

But is it true for everyone?

The last week has taught me that sins are unavoidable, but it’s what you do from the ashes left behind that determine your fate. Our destiny can’t be written in stone and be unchangeable, right?

Rage’s dark past will haunt him until his last breath. But he’s no longer that person. I can’t change what he did to save his infant brother all those years ago, but I can help him live with that pain and use every day as a chance to help someone. That counts for something, right?

He once told me the glass walls around my heart will harden soon enough, but I think those glass walls are cracking with each caress of his hand, each brush of his lips against mine. Trust doesn’t come easy, nor does love. But with him, it just feels natural. We feel good together like we were meant to be, and I’m going to hold on to that and let it keep my feet firmly on the ground over the next few days.

I raise my face to the sun and drink in the light. I’m standing in the field of flowers where I almost lost my life the day before yesterday. A patch of stained daisies stares back at me even now, as if to remind me how fleeting life can be. So much darkness took up my life until the Savages came barreling into the ship’s hull and brought their brand of chaos rushing into my life.

I’ll forever be grateful for their savage sins and willingness to take the punishment that comes with their brand of justice to save the innocent.

Warmth and beauty wrap around me in a warm embrace.

I’ll need to tap into this gratitude and love to keep my sanity. The next week of my life will test me. I know I will falter, but this war with the Antonovs is unavoidable. Silas now has the power of the empire Cortes left behind.

I hear the brush of feet walking through the field right before I feel the arms of my lover come around me.

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