Page 88 of Graves

“I got you something,” I say as I reach into my desk drawer and pull out the black leather box.

Her eyebrows knit as a confused smile touches her lips.

“What for?”

“Well, Zayden got you an anniversary present. Seems only fitting I give you one as well.”

A choked laugh escapes her as she hesitates to open the small black jewelry box.

“It’s not someone’s finger or something, is it?” she teases.

“Afraid not,” I say as my mouth stretches into a smile. “Though if you need some fingers chopped off, you direct me to them, and I’ll take care of it.”

She squints her eyes at me before wearing a dubious smirk.

“I thought you didn’t kill people anymore.”

“I don’t, doesn’t mean I can’t.”

Something sparks in her eyes at that. It’s not fear, it’s not disgust, it almost looks like excitement. My babygirl is a lot more twisted than I ever would have imagined, maybe that’s how she’s able to love two broken men like us so well, even if she denies loving Zayden just yet.

When she flips open the lid, her breath catches, and her eyes come to mine. I rest my palm on her thigh, squeezing it softly as she looks back down at the necklace.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers.

“May I?” I ask as I gesture toward the box.

She nods with a smile, and I pull it out as she lifts up her hair. My hands wind around her neck as I clasp it together before pulling back to admire it. It’s nothing too extravagant, not even close. It’s a white gold pendant custom-shaped into a daffodil. It was too unique of an item to simply purchase in-store, and I enjoyed having it custom-made, it made it more unique, more special.

“I love it, thank you.” She smiles, a tear dropping down her cheek as she smiles.

I frown at that, catching the tear with my thumb.

“Why are you crying, baby?”

“No one has ever given me anything like this before. This is?—”

“Just a necklace. You deserve far more, and I intend to give you the world.”

She leans down, wrapping her arms around my neck andpulling me into her. Her soft lips move against mine easily, like they were always meant to, and I just begin weaving my fingers through her hair when my phone rings. I debate on ignoring it, but Blake is the one to break the kiss, pulling away and glancing at the screen on my desk.

Without hesitating, she picks it up and answers it.

“Hello?”

I know it can only be one person that she’d be bold enough to answer on my phone, so I ease back into my chair and overhear Zayden’s rough chuckle.

“Hello, angel. You’re not my brother.”

“Nope. How is your…trip?” she says with an exaggerated pause.

“Finished early and am in need of a mood lifter. Got any ideas?” he asks her.

I’ll bet. Though Zayden might not have the same conflictions as I do, and despite him seeming like a cold sociopath, he does have a heart and a conscience, and he had to go against both today in order to protect the beautiful woman in front of me. A price he’s happy to pay but taxing all the same.

“Hmm, we could go dancing!” she suggests, a spark lighting behind her eyes as she speaks.

“Angel, do my brother or I seem like the type to go dancing?” he asks, voicing my own thoughts perfectly.

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