Page 138 of Broken Pact

There’s inherent sadness to death. Even when it’s someone like Lawson who caused so much pain and chaos. A life snuffed out, potential forever lost, no matter how twisted that potential might have been.

But mostly, I just feel an overwhelming sense of fucking relief. That it’s over, that she’s safe, that she’s fucking standing next to me, where she belongs.

“Jasper!” She runs toward me, throwing herself into my arms and burying her face against my chest. She pulls back quickly, running her hands all over me frantically. “Are you okay? Are you shot? Did you get hurt?”

“Hey, hey, I’m alright, baby. Don’t worry about me.” I try to soothe her panic, but I’m riding my own wave of worry and I don’t know how the fuck to get down.

“But I am worried about you,” she murmurs, her voice warbling a little. “You were right there and he was pointing a gun at your head, Jasper. I-I . . .” She shakes her head, cutting herself off.

I nudge her hands to my chest, one right over my heart. “I’m fine. But you’re the one bleeding.” My eyes widen as I take in the state of her wrists. Angry red welts encircle the delicate skin, deep gouges marring the flesh. Gashes and cuts in her palms, blood trickling from the wounds and painting macabre lines down her forearms.

“Jesus Christ, baby,” I breathe, my chest constricting. My fingers ghost over the injuries, feather-light and trembling. “What the fuck did he do to you?”

Coraline swallows hard, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. She shakes her head, her hair sticking to her sweaty neck. “He didn’t really do anything, outside of drugging me. I mean, he zip tied my wrists, but most of this I did to myself with Nana Jo’s old metal nail file trying to get out of them.”

“You did a good job, baby,” I praise her softly. I ghost my lips over the inside of her wrists, finding the tiniest patch of blood-free skin.

“I’m sorry I said that I didn’t want to be yours,” she rushes out, like the words have been trying to get out and she finally let them.

I cup her face with my hands, thumbs brushing away the tears that have started to fall. “Hey, shh, we don’t need to do this right now, baby. It’s okay.”

Coraline shakes her head vehemently, her hands coming up to grip my wrists. “No, Jasper, it’s not okay. I need to say this. You need to know how sorry I am that I said that. How sorry I am that I’m—I’m the reason we didn’t work out before.”

“I shouldn’t have said it—I-I didn’t mean it.” Her voice breaks, and her blue eyes bore into mine, swirling with a kaleidoscope of emotions. Desperation, regret. Love.

I feel a tug in my chest, a sharp pain that mirrored the heartache in her voice. It was as if her emotions were physically hitting me, causing tangible pain.

Tears stream down Coraline's face as she clutches my wrists, her delicate fingers pressing into my skin. Even now, even after everything she's been through tonight, her touch ignites a spark deep inside me.

A flicker of hope, of promise, of a future I never dared to dream of until her.

“I was so stupid, Jasper,” she whispers, swallowing hard. “I let my own insecurities and fears drive me away from you two years ago. And I don’t want to make that mistake again.”

“I wasn’t ready for you then,” I murmur.

She looks up at me, hope and vulnerability swirling around in her dark blue eyes. “And now? Are you ready for me now?”

“Baby,” I murmur, my voice rough with emotion. I brush my thumbs over her cheekbones, wiping away the tearful tracks. “You already know the answer to that.”

“I need your words.” She sniffs, a small smile tugging up the corner of her mouth.

I know it’s because she’s parroting the words I’ve said to her countless times, though usually under different circumstances.

I tilt her face upward. “You’ve always been mine, Coraline Carter. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”

She pushes onto her toes, her mouth hovering over mine. “I want to be. God, do I want to be yours. I love you, Jasper. I don’t know how or when, but I need you to know that I love you so goddamn much.” Tears roll down her face in a steady stream.

My heart swells at her declaration, tears pricking the backs of my eyes. I crush my mouth to hers in a kiss filled with months of longing, years of unspoken feelings finally actualized. She returns the kiss with equal fervor, her fingers sliding into my hair and tugging me closer.

When we finally break apart, both breathing heavily, I rest my forehead against hers. “I love you too, Coraline. I think I always have.” The words tumble out, raw and honest in a way I’ve never been before. But with her, it’s easy.

The sound of approaching vehicles breaks us apart. I lift my head to see a black SUV and a couple motorcycles pulling up, their headlights illuminating the dark road.

“Cleanup is here,” I murmur, relief mixing with the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Coraline tenses in my arms, and I rub a soothing hand down her back. “Let’s go home, baby.”

“I have so many questions,” she mumbles, eyes closed.

A low laugh tumbles out of me, because of course she does. I slide my palm along her abdomen, pressing her against me tighter.

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