Page 182 of Endgame

“Good?” Out of everything she could’ve said. “You’re killing me over here.”

“Yes, good.” The feel of her hands on my forearms makes me pull her closer to my front. “Because, you sick fuck, I love you too.”

Then, as if she hasn’t just told me the words I’ve been praying to hear, Aurora’s eyelashes flutter, and she falls asleep in my arms.

Which is fine by me.

She needs the rest.

I, her monster, am here to take her home.

AURORA

Before Everett forced me to marry him, I’d always wake up alone.

Whenever I had nightmares as a child, my parents refused to let me squeeze between them in their bed.

They made sure to stay away when I came down with the flu. One of the nannies would check on me every few hours while I stayed in my bed. By myself.

Sleepovers? With who? I had no friends.

An empty bed had been a constant in my life.

Some days, it was my safe haven. The longer I went without seeing or hearing from Molly and Winston, the better.

Then, I’d been ripped away from my lonely life. Everett made me his.

I’ve grown attached to his presence, his cock, his warm body beneath the sheets.

So it’s no wonder that even with my eyes closed, I can sense when he’s here.

And when he’s gone.

His possessive arm isn’t wrapped around me.

The blankets don’t warm me nearly half as much as they usually do. It’s as if ice clings to my bones.

I slide my hand over to the other side of the bed anyway.

I’m met with expensive, empty sheets. No sculpted abs. No hard chest.

No furiously beating heart.

I miss it.

Sigh.

My eyes flutter open. A few blinks and several moments later, they adjust to the darkness of the room.

It’s still night out, the moonlight filtering through the large windows.

The light it’s offering is offensive. Because when I turn to the other side of the bed, I see just how empty it is.

After Everett’sI love youtonight, after how he claimed me in front of everyone, I’d hoped for…

I’m not sure what.