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All the silent ones I saw my mother shed. I swore I’d never be a man like that; a man who makes a woman cry.
And here I am. Realizing how you don’t have to hit someone to hurt them. Words. Lies. Betrayal. They can wound, too.
I’ve hurt Ruby. More than anyone, I know. But I can’t break her. I don’t think any man can.
Because she clutches the sheet to her chest, her fist blanching white with fury while she lifts her chin, making me witness the pain pouring down her face.
The painIput there.
Tinker Bell with auburn hair—that’s who Ruby looks like.
Tinker Bell with a loaded Uzi—that’s my queen staring back at me.
Her silence seeps into my skin like the heavy humidity outside. I let her study my face and search my eyes while her tears dry.
I don’t know what else to say except, “Please believe that I’ve said the wordlovebefore, but I never felt it until you. Until you let me take care of you, and I will. I’ll love you until my dying day.”
She lifts her chin even higher.
Such a goddamn queen.
“That’ll be soon once Loch and Nash find out.”
Her tone is growing cold. It scares me, but I deserve it.
I nod. “I’ll tell them next, but I wanted to tell you first.”
She purses her lips, ordering, “No. Don’t tell them. That’s Alena’s right.”
“But what about my rights? That’s my brother. That’s my best friend. I should look them in the eye and tell them.”
“You want a perfect world, go live in a fairytale,” she fumes. “But in this one? Men take too much from women as it is. Their bodies. Their safety. Their secrets. Their lives. Fuck that. Alena will tell her father and her husband, not you. You and your dick head have done enough.”
Now she’s raging hot.Good.I’d rather have her wildfire than her ice.
And fuck me; she truly sounds like a queen, defending another one.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“Yes. Do you prefer cremation or burial after I fucking kill you for lying to me?”
“Is that a question?” I grin. “I love your fire.”
“Don’t fuck around, Axel. I’m going to be mad for a long time. Are you man enough to handle it?”
“Like I’ll ever leave you.”
Her eyes sharpen. “Like I’ll ever leave you, either. I’m too damn stubborn. I meant it. I love you and I’ll stay. I’ll be your queen. And you’ll be my king who puts up with my rage with a goddamn smile on his face until I’m done.”
Pain and pride swirl in her deep blue eyes. They’re a raging ocean of emotions I’ve caused. I just hope our love doesn’t drown.
“I’m sorry.”
I feel it in my bones. My soul. My heart that’s pounding, but will never give up on our love.
“And I don’t know what I feel.” She flips the sheet open. “So, sleep beside me in case I feel like murdering you in your sleep.”
“That was your dream. Right? Me, being murdered in my sleep.” I slide in beside her.