Page 43 of Not Her Day to Die (Star-Crossed #2)

T he scene in the living room is not what I expected.

“Luna?” I ask, dropping Darius’s hand I run the last steps to her.

“Don’t hug me, you buffoon,” she says as I squeeze her in my arms. “You idiotic girl that can’t stay alive. You’re worse than a fucking dodo!” But her arms wrap around me, tugging me tighter to her. “But you did it. You finally fucking saved us.”

We pull apart, and my attention catches on Agent Jane Franz; her mother. Her eyes crinkle at the edges, and her lips lift in the softest of smiles.

“Thank you, all of you. Especially you, Sunday. I know you took a risk, but I am so grateful for it. I finally have my daughter back.” She pulls me into a hug next, but it is much briefer.

When she lets me go, I am wrenched backwards by another set of arms.

Axel’s.

He yanks me onto his lap, and I attempt to move, but he doesn’t allow me to.

“Stay right here,” he growls into my ear. “I haven’t forgiven you yet for this half-baked plan.”

Jane cocks an eyebrow but doesn’t speak as she settles onto the chair across from us, Luna remains standing, crossing her arms over her chest. Grayson stands opposite her, nearly replicating her pose. He offers me a reassuring smile .

Darius enters the room and casts a glance around before settling next to Axel, his hand landing on my bare thigh.

Once we are all situated, Luna is the first to speak. “Well as my mom was just saying, they haven’t found Maxwell yet, but they assume he is amongst the dead.”

Darius tenses next to me but remains silent, his rough fingers digging into my skin just a bit.

“How can we be sure?” It is Grayson who snaps this time. “Why hasn’t it been confirmed with the public if he was among the dead?”

Jane heaves a sigh. “This is an ongoing investigation. The names of the deceased will be released as soon as we are capable. But I am being kept mostly in the dark due to my affiliation.”

“What happened?” I ask.

“The Thornes got caught,” Jane explains.

“Finally. And not only them, there have been dozens implicated already and it’s only been a day.

We are working through the evidence, but they kept video of most of the crimes committed.

And it won’t be long before more witnesses and victims come forward.

The Thornes fabricated blackmail against most of this town, used it as a way to buy their silence, to continue on their nefarious ways, but now that Sterling is behind bars?

Federal bars? The threats that kept their silence hold no merit. We did it. You all did it.”

“How did the FBI come so quickly? What made them buy that you were dead?” My curiosity is stamping out my unease.

“Veronica,” Grayson says.

Darius’s fingers dig further into my thigh, nearly on the cusp of pain. I place one of my hands over his, giving him a reassuring squeeze. I’m sure this isn’t easy for him to hear either.

Jane quirks her lips. “The girl, Veronica, she called in the anonymous tip along with a video that appeared to show me shot down in front of the Thorne’s estate.

All a ruse that Axel and Grayson here played out perfectly.

When the backup arrived and they couldn’t find my body, but located my bloodied car, it caused them to search further.

When Axel and Grayson advised you were safe, I revealed myself.

Played off the video as one of his men attempting to gun me down.

No one was any the wiser, and we finally broke through the walls of their corruption. ”

A light, hopeful energy finds its way into my heart. Maxwell is dead. Mark is dead. Sterling is behind bars. “And the victims? Those that were trapped for so long? Did they all make it out? Are they okay?”

“They were transported to various hospitals,” Jane explains.

“They’re not okay, Sunday,” Luna snaps.

I flinch back, further into Axel’s chest.

“But that’s not your fucking fault. And they’re going to heal. Just like I’m going to. Even if it did take you long enough to get me out of there.” Her lips twitch, but her tone remains scolding.

Jane’s eyes turn glassy, she reaches out grabbing her daughter’s hand. Their two tattoos are on display.

Yin and yang.

Balance.

“I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner, sweetheart.” Jane’s voice cracks in the middle.

“I told you to cut it out, Mom. I’m going to go to therapy to emotionally dump all of this on them. You should go too.”

“What now?” Axel gripes. “Do we just return to life as if none of this happened? Is the FBI going to leave us the fuck alone? What about Darius?”

Jane whips her attention back to us. “Darius and Sunday have been painted as victims in this.” Her features soften, and suddenly, she appears much older. “They kept videos of all the, uh, victims. We started with the newest first.”

Dread and anxiety fold in my stomach. Darius’s nails break the skin on my thigh, but I can barely feel it.

“What are you talking about?” Axel bites out through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry, Sunday. I didn’t know that you hadn’t told them yet.” Jane sounds apologetic, but the damage is done.

Grayson turns to face me, appraises me. “Sunday.” My name is a warning.

“All three brothers? Wow, Sunday,” Luna laughs caustically. “Cut her some fucking slack. Let her tell you when she’s ready. God damn, it’s only been a day.”

I am eternally grateful for Luna’s remark, but I know neither of the brothers will let this go for long.

Jane clears her throat. “All of that to say, you will be left alone, other than the inevitable media attention, but no charges will be filed. All deaths have been accounted for as accidental or self-defense. Including the two dead men outside of the imprison camp and the unfortunate suicide of one Mark Leetle will not be investigated further.”

My attention flashes up, I meet Jane’s eyes.

She gifts a knowing smile, getting to her feet.

“All documents and necessary items have been completed. As victims, you and Darius may need to be on the witness stand if this makes it to trial, but I imagine it won’t.

The lawyers have already begun throwing deals around for other names.

And so far, Sterling seems to be more than willing to turn on anyone and everyone for the chance at evading the death penalty. ”

“And Maxwell?” I ask, because even hearing that he is dead, I have a hard time believing it. Killing a cockroach is nearly impossible .

“He is gone, my colleagues have assured me. Please rest easy, and if anything changes, I will reach out.” Jane wraps an arm around Luna’s shoulders. “If you ever need anything, you have my number. But Sunday? Take care of yourself. Take the time you need to heal.”

Grayson’s attention is still firmly planted on me and I can feel Axel’s eyes boring holes into the back of my head, but I ignore them both.

“We’ll see ourselves out.” Jane offers a wave as she exits the room.

We all remain in tense silence for a period after her exit. I focus my attention on Darius, on his hand, on his knuckles, on the scar along his pinky, the burn on his index finger.

Cooking injuries.

“Sunday,” Axel grumbles.

“Axel,” Grayson warns. “She doesn’t have to tell us anything.”

Darius’s breathing is heavy, uneven. He finally glances up, finds my eyes.

They swirl in misery and anxiety.

“It’s okay Darius,” I encourage. “We can tell them. It isn’t our fault. It isn’t yours or mine. We did what we had to.”

And I mean it. I would never, ever blame him. And I will remind him of that fact every day if I have to, because I can see the pain it has caused Darius. The heavy aura that wraps around him.

“Okay,” Darius agrees.

Wriggling off of Axel’s lap, I maneuver until I am straddling Darius. I rest my forehead on his chest, and he squeezes me to him. A sound of appreciation vibrates in my throat as I burrow further into his cotton shirt.

It smells like him. A warm, smoky sandalwood that wraps around us.

“It wasn’t Darius’s fault,” I start. “I need you both to understand I don’t blame him and I won’t forgive either of you if you do.”

“Little Lamb, you’re making me anxious. You need to spit it out.”

Grayson doesn’t speak, but I can hear his uneven breathing, sense him .

I don’t know exactly how to tell them this. It is a memory that is both profoundly special and outwardly horrible.

“Sterling made me fuck her. In front of an entire crowd of onlookers. They must have videotaped it too,” Darius confesses, a sob breaking through.

I snuggle further into him, providing and taking comfort in equal doses.

Axel swears loudly.

“Are you both okay?” Grayson asks. “Fuck, no of course you aren’t! You’re both so fucking young. How could they? How? How ?” Grayson’s voice breaks. “Fuck!”

I hear his retreating steps as he stomps away. As the side door slams. As Darius’s truck rumbles to life. As it squeals out of the driveway.

“He blames himself,” Axel informs, stroking my back. “He thinks that everything that happens to us is his fault. But he’ll be back. It isn’t either of your faults. It’s just, we shouldn’t have let you go, Sunday. We could have found another way. This didn’t need to happen. What if–”

I cut him off. “What ifs don’t help anything Axel.”

He snorts sarcastically. “They don’t.” His hand drops.

“Jane returned my bike from impound, she’s working on Grayson’s car next.

I’m going to take it on a long ride, clear my head.

But neither of us blame you. Especially not you, Darius.

You didn’t have a choice. But this is so fucked.

” Axel tousles my hair and gets to his feet.

“Just take care of each other. Relax. Grayson will be back soon, I’m sure of it. ”

I don’t argue. I knew they wouldn’t be happy when we told them. Knew that Axel would regret letting me go. But we’ll make it past this.

Snuggling further into Darius, I continue breathing him in. “I’m sorry Darius. If anything, this was my fault. Not yours.”

His chest shakes, and for a second, I think he might be laughing, but then a sob breaks free .

It takes time but eventually he brings himself together, winds his pain back inside for it to rest.

He squeezes me tighter to him. “I don’t deserve you, but I’m a selfish man. You promise to never leave? To never go off and run face first into danger again?”

“I promise,” I murmur, shifting in his lap.

My thin shorts rub against his hardening cock. I am sore, aching from our recent encounter, but I need him.

It feels as if we are making up for lost time, as if our bodies are two forces drawn together. Existing independently but shoved together by outside forces.

The sun and the moon.

And I know with certainty that Darius is the sun.

Darius’s eyes darken with intent. “Sunday?”

Rolling my hips again as my answer.

He bends forward, reaching for the coffee table. Opening the drawer, he pulls out a condom.

“What the fuck, Axel?” Because I know it was him.

I know he scattered them across the house. I'm grateful but also mildly peeved.

Darius quirks his lips.

Shifting to my knees, he reaches between us tugging down his shorts. I expect him to pull mine off, but instead he pushes them to the side, and then he's sliding back into me.

Slowly, lethargically.

The first time taking Darius was nearly impossible.

The second time, even after the help from the shower and his fingers, was still difficult.

But this time? This time it is as if he is made for me .

A glove filled entirely with zero excess room.

And then his hands find my waist and he's tugging me down onto him as he snaps up. My knees dig into the corduroy couch, scraping against the fabric. My hands go to his shoulders, holding on as best I can.

And then my lips are on his, rolling myself onto him as I find my own pleasure. With my shorts pulled to the side, it is nearly impossible to reach my own clit, but then as he moves, my shorts drift across my clit causing bursts of ecstasy to amplify his cock as he continues to pump into me.

“Darius,” I groan into his mouth.

His name is a siren and it causes him to ramp up. To build speed and pressure.

My nerves are frayed, my mind a muddled mess, but my pleasure?

It is a growing ball of electricity deep in my gut, and it doesn't take much more before I am falling again.

He has wrung the last of my energy.

“Made for me.” Darius nuzzles into my neck as he jerks inside of me.

He squeezes me to him, and I do the same. Filling him with as much love and affection as I can.

We are both empty batteries, charging each other instead of ourselves, but that's okay.

Eventually we draw apart. On wobbly legs, I make my way to my feet. “Meet me upstairs? Your room?”

“My room?”

“Like old times sake? Watch movies?”

Darius’s eyes light up. “Please.”

** *

Cleaned up for the third time, I find my way to Darius’s bed. He has left my spot open for me, and I crawl into it.

“Horror, right?” he jokes, and I give him a soft tap to the shoulder.

“I know, comedy it is. Let’s watch the one about the spy that was frozen.”

And that is where we stay, until my eyes grow heavy, and eventually Darius readjusts until I am laying on him completely, my head on his chest.

I make it through about ten minutes of the movie before I fall into a deep sleep.