Page 99 of Possess Me

No one would ever be able to tell me otherwise. I knew the fur baby was her gift from heaven. A single tear formed in my right eye and I rubbed the area vigorously.

“She’ll never be far from your mind.” Vissarian’s voice was gruffer than before, likely from facing his own traumatic past and exhaustion.

I also suspected being a superhero was tiring.

“I know she will. I just can’t believe she’s gone.”

He gripped my shoulder. “I know. It will take time to heal. If that’s even possible. Hey, Bella. Why don’t you come keep me company.”

“Do you care about her?”

He seemed surprised by my question. “Bella?”

“Yes.”

“What’s not to love? She’s an extension of you.”

I doubted the man was a poet or a romantic, yet the few words were exactly what I needed to hear. “Go, baby girl. Take a nap for Mommy.”

As I settled in for the flight, I realized that my life was about to change. It didn’t matter that I’d been born Fallon Zimmerman because Steven Zimmerman hadn’t existed. I suspected my mother had changed her name as well. What would trouble me for the rest of my life was if Megan knew the truth and that was why she’d run.

Not that I’d blame her.

Was it true my father had been pressured to allow my sister to be married to some monster? I shuddered from the thought.

Bella licked my hand before trotting off with Vissarian.

A man who never slept.

What would have happened if he had fallen asleep the night before? I was finished with being afraid, with allowing my haunted mind to control both my emotions and my resolve. I was much stronger than the woman Vissarian had met.

I’d simply been running on empty.

No longer.

As of right now, I would never allow anyone to torment me again.

Including the big, brooding Russian who drove me absolutely crazy.

With a soft laugh, I concentrated on my job. The one he’d hired me to do.

Soon, several hours had flown by. Maybe I’d been lost in my thoughts, but when I finally took the opportunity to glance into the cabin, the vision allowed me to smile for the first time since the night before.

Bella was on Vissarian’s lap, her twitches indicating she was in a deep sleep.

Then there was the big Russian who tried his best to pretend he was nothing but a tough guy. His head was back against the seat, his eyes closed and he was snoring.

Not that I could hear him with the sound of the engine, but seeing his mouth open told me everything I needed to know.

He was finally able to let down his guard since no one could get to me here.

The thought had me wondering if I’d see monsters lurking in the shadows for the rest of my life. He’d killed four men.

For me.

To protect me.

I should feel horrible about that. Right? Why didn’t I? Did I need him to prove himself to me or was I finally able to realize the life I thought had been stolen from me in fact had existed only in the clouds?