Page 44 of A Spark in the Ash

Jaxon shakes his head. “Where we live isn’t anything you need to concern yourself over. You’ll let us have our lives. You’ll stay out of it. Because I know where all the bodies are buried.”

A spark of cold lightning flashes through my stomach.

He’s just threatened his mother. The crime lord that has been possessed since she was a teenager.

From the reaction of Blake, who stands instantly, his hand going to the gun strapped at his hip, to his sister who shakes her head with her own level of coldness, I know this is serious.

“Sit down,” Vivian says sharply. The command is directed at her eldest son, though she doesn’t look away from her youngest.

Blake hesitates for a moment, glaring death at his brother. But finally, he sinks back into his seat at the table.

I realize now that I’m gripping Jaxon’s hand so hard, my fingernails have made half-moon indents into his skin.

"I'm not walking away forever," Jaxon moves on. "But you will let us have our life."

Vivian continues staring at her son, and I'd give anything to know what's really going through her head right now.

"You never did get to choose before," she says calmly. "You were born into this life. I tried to give you a good life. One that I hoped you would be proud of. But you're right, I have to let you have your own choice in this. So long as you don't forget where you came from, I will let you live your lives."

There's something in her tone and the way she says it that makes me think there is afor nowattached to that.

But it's something. It's far more than I ever expected.

Jaxon nods, but he doesn't say thank you.

"I'm sorry for all the dramatics," Vivian says as her eyes shift over to me. "Our lives here are never boring, but usually we are a semi-pleasant crowd to be around. We are your new family, I hope we can all try to get along."

"I hope so too," I say evenly. I hold confidence and calm in my voice. I don't want a single member of the Gray family thinking that I am intimidated by them. "We are family, after all."

Vivian gives a small smile. It's not very genuine, but at least she's trying. She rises from her chair and comes to sit on the couch next to the one Jaxon and I are sitting on. She extends a hand toward me. "May I at least see if my son did me proud when it comes to the ring?"

I'm realizing that I'm starting to like this part. Showing off the ring Jaxon picked out for me. I don't hesitate as I extend my hand toward Vivian.

She holds it up, closely inspecting the ring. Jaxon was absolutely right when he said that every member of his family would know if the diamond was fake. "Salt-and-pepper diamond, as unique as the two of you are. Eighteen karat white gold. It's certainly a unique piece. Just as unique as the ink that is on my son’s skin."

"That was his idea," I say as I look over at him. "I was thinking platinum. The ink was all him."

Jaxon leans into me, his nose only 2 inches from mine. "Just wanted to make sure you understood that I'm in this for the long haul. Till death do us part, remember?"

Dread and anxiety surge in my stomach. Because it could be till death do us part. Or until I outlive him. Or until the gate opens, and I have to make a choice. Here, or home.

But what is home? Is home a place? Somewhere like this penthouse, or a tunnel in the desert?

Or is it a person? The one that you always want to be with?

Everything I thought I once knew and felt is shifting, ever since this man stepped in to keep me from killing that creep at the club.

I forget that we are surrounded by his family members on all sides. Gently, I place my hand on the side of his face and lean in, pressing my lips to his.

"I am envious," Vivian says. "The circumstances might seem extreme to the rest of us, but it's obvious. You love my son, Serena. It's exceptionally obvious to me that my son loves you, as well."

My eyes stay fixed on Jaxon. We might have only said the words to each other for the first time a little over an hour ago, but the truth of them weighs heavy as the moon in my body.

"I do," I find myself saying.

From the look in his eyes, I know that Jaxon is thinking the same thing I am. He's thinking of the ring on my finger. He's thinking of the tattoo on his own. "I do," he repeats.

"Disgusting," Blake says from the table. "The physical part, yes. But this? The goo and the longing eyes?" He shakes his head.

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