Page 115 of Love Me

She giggles, and I dip my chin and kiss her. “You want answers. I want us away from the Family.”

Standing up from the couch, she stretches out her hand for me. I take it, lifting her hand to my mouth and placing a kiss on the inside of her palm.

She cups my cheek. “You’re lucky I love you.”

I chuckle and wrap my arms around her waist, savoring her in my arms. And no one will take her away from me. I’d hold on to her even then if they broke all my limbs and bones. No one will ever rip her from me again. They can pry her from my dead body and not sooner. But I’d kill everyone long before it would come to that.

I don’t want to think about what will happen when we leave. There are still so many obstacles in our way. But together, we’ll overcome them. Baring our souls to each other last night was liberating. I shed that overwhelming anger and need to fight and embraced my love for him without shame, guilt, or regret. He’s my person, and trusting him comes naturally. No wonder I acted like I did, I was going against my core beliefs. My erratic behavior was more of a cry for help. I am safe with him. And that knowledge broke my shackles, filling me with lightness.

While he plays soulful music, I make myself comfortable on the bed, going through more letters. But knowing he’s here, the need to read every one of them dims. I put them away for later and close my eyes.

When I wake up, the sun is high in the sky.

Kaden follows me with his eyes, and I step outside, walking toward the dome. He’s right behind me, and he puts his palm on a panel and the door opens.

“I searched for a key.”

“We’ll program your palm print for the access panel as well. It’ll be our secret.”

When I enter, a cozy, open space greets me. At our feet lies a plush carpet and the room is filled with a small library, a velvet sleeper sofa, and a small rectangular table. On a counter, there’s a vinyl record player.

“This is even more beautiful than…”

His muscles flex with tension.

“You did what you had to do.”

His eyes turn serious and his hands curl at his sides. “I hate them so fucking much. I don’t know how I can contain my rage.”

“They’re bad people. How inhuman must they be to push us away from each other, as if our love is something wrong?”

“Psychopaths. They see love as a weakness. Look at them. They’re all miserable. They work nonstop and have no idea how to be parents. How could I ever want that: a loveless marriage and making children to be good little soldiers for the Family?”

“Kaden.” It’s one thing knowing he and Abigail are not and never were romantically involved, but marriage. I don’t know how I can deal with that.

“It won’t come to that. I promise.”

I grab his hands, and he intertwines our fingers.

“I lost you once. I can’t do that a second time.”

“We can’t run away, Kaden. They’re too powerful. We have to fight them first.”

“I had to give her my necklace as a display of my loyalty. It’s in Grandmother’s room. When she feels particularly joyful, the old hag loves to invite me to her private chambers and there it is, hanging from her mirror, mocking me.”

Anger flares inside of me, and I can barely contain it.

“We’ll get it back,” I say resolutely.

He plucks the other necklace from his pocket. My hand flies to my mouth.

“I thought you’d thrown it away. You can be a dick.”

“I couldn’t. And baby, you have that power.”

“Such an honor.” I pin him with a glare and he tucks me into him.

“I’ve thought of a hundred different ways of killing Hunter, believing you are in love with him.”

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