Page 135 of The Darkest Hour

I looked at him. “Do you smell anything?”

“Of course I do. I smell you.”

“I’m talking about other people or anything else?”

“That scent of death is much stronger, but I must admit I’m getting other stuff that is making me. . .”

“What?”

“A little hopeful.”

“What the hell are you smelling?”

“Paint. It’s sharp and slightly bitter. Very chemical. I’m sure it’s paint. And. . .” He lifted his nose in the air and sniffed. “Metal. It’s acrid like. . .lightning. Burnt and smoky but. . .not alive, so. . .that’s definitely metal. . .and stone. . .yes. . .lots of stone too.”

I widened my eyes. “Your nose is amazing.”

“It is. When I was young, I used to hate being able to smell everything. I suffered, and thought I was an alien or something. It took me a long time to figure out how to. . .separate odors that I didn’t like and ignore them.”

“Well. . .if I could fuck your nose I would.”

“We can try. Putting my nose into your pussy sounds like a great idea to me.”

“You are a dirty pervert.”

“Speaking of that, do you have to go to the bathroom?”

“That was your first and last time watching me pee so I hope you enjoyed it.”

“There will be other times, wildcat.”

I sucked my teeth. “I have a question.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you give me the gun?”

“You know why I gave it to you.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

Havoc didn’t answer right away. He reached into the yellow bag, pulling out a handful of the wild strawberries, and offered them to me.

I took one, and the sweet tartness exploded on my tongue.

Then, he spoke, “I trust you. . .more than I’ve trusted anyone in a long time.”

There was more to his words—something beautiful and yet to be spoken—but I didn’t press him.

Instead, I kept on walking, loving this moment with him.

After a while, Havoc broke the silence. “Do you have a life-changing kill?”

“Life changing?” I quirked my brows. “What do you mean?”

“A kill where. . .something unexpected happened and perhaps. . .it changed how you saw life after that.”

“Ahh.” I bobbed my head. “Yeah. I have one.”

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