Page 123 of Burn Like An Angel

“I’ll always hurt someone else before I let the people I love suffer. I want to protect you, Rip. I want to make up for all the cruel shit I’ve done. The pain I’ve caused you.”

In the spirit of honesty, I gather my courage.

“We’ve almost died more times than I can count, but these past few weeks… Fuck, I’ve never felt so whole, Nox. Even while on death’s door. You all make me feel that way.”

My hand still resting above his heart, I can feel how out of control it is right now. Stuttering with each hard pound, the organ is pleading with me. Begging for this clean slate.

“That’s why I’m willing to have faith right now.” I smooth his bloodstained shirt. “Because I know you’ll protect me. Just like you’ll protect Raine and Xander. I trust you.”

Reaching up, Lennox pushes a matted curl behind my ear. “You do?”

“Perhaps against my better judgement.”

His mouth quirks. “I’ve learned to ignore my judgement. It’s led me down the wrong path too many times.”

“And now?”

“Now… I think it was wrong all along. I’m where I need to be.” His knuckles gently stroke down to my jaw. “I’ll spend every waking moment ensuring your trust isn’t misplaced.”

I take Lennox’s hand from my face, his grip firm and reassuring. It feels right clutching mine. His fingertips dance over my skin, leaving butterfly kisses that raise my gooseflesh.

“Ready?” I ask him. “They won’t wait forever.”

“No. I’m not ready. Not yet.”

Grip tightening on my jaw, he leans in to touch his lips to mine. It doesn’t matter that we’re standing in broad daylight, surrounded by strangers. Coated in blood. Beaten and broken down.

Because Lennox is kissing me.

He’s holding me close.

Giving himself to me.

Unlike previous kisses, this one is tender. A slow, delicate touch of the lips. He’s hesitant at first, mouth lingering on mine before he pecks me again. Harder. Breathing vulnerability and hope into the vacant space I’ve carved for him in my heart.

Everything about Lennox is intimidating. His harsh demeanour. Acid tongue. Propensity for violence. Inability to forgive. But I’m starting to realise this isn’t the real Lennox at all. Like Xander and Raine, he played a role.

We all did.

It’s how we survived.

This is the real Lennox. Kissing me so softly, I almost wonder if the man who knocked me unconscious and left me for dead in a flooding pool ever really existed. Back then, I was just another threat.

The kiss ends, and I gulp down air.

“Now I’m ready.” He plants a final kiss on my forehead. “Let’s go see what these fuckers want from us for their stupid protection.”

“You don’t have to sound so thrilled.”

“I’m struggling to contain my enthusiasm, really.”

“I can tell.”

Fingers interlinked, we turn to face the others. Xander’s holding Raine upright to relieve his bad ankle, while Warner’s team is pouring over a map pulled up on Theodore’s laptop.

Enzo glares around with his thick arms folded. The hard-faced grump can’t fool me. I saw that smile earlier and all it entailed. He’s a fucking teddy bear.

We walk over to Xander and Raine. Standing as one united front, even in our pathetically dishevelled state, I’ve never felt so powerful. Perhaps we can do this. Face the evil hunting us and end it, once and for all.

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