Page 2 of Burn for Me

It'd be so easy to walk up behind him right now and wrap hands around his neck until it–

Taking a deep breath, I brush my hair back and head toward the beach again. The scenery should calm me, but every crunch in the sand feels like bones breaking, and the thunder rumbling in the sky sounds too similar to gunshots.

Don’t get triggered.

It's a struggle between wanting to forget and needing to remember. Most war dogs from Chaos sought therapy after discharge due to being haunted by their past.Not me.I want to relive the pain I inflicted–endured. Carlisle’s ruthless tactics stripped away my emotions, and now I’m forced to rewire everything to avoid messing up the fresh start his son has given me.

Looking around the vast area, a small silhouette sways at the water's edge, staring into the storm. I squint through the heavy rain, wiping mist from my face with my sleeve to confirm it's a person and not a hallucination. I often experience those, but I can usually tell reality from some muddled flashback.

“Hey!” I call out loud enough to startle the figure into a sprint. I’m following close behind before I even realize it.Fuck, I love a good chase, and indulging my urges just a bit feels right in my new role.

A wicked grin spreads across my face as I tackle them into the wet ground, pinning their hips beneath my knees. Thick dark lashes flutter against the rain, and I tilt my head to provide some cover, taking in her contrast to my rugged appearance.

Her hair is a bright blonde, while mine is a dirty shade, like my life. Her eyes shine in a soft golden hue, whereas mine are as dark as my soul. I'm not given enough time to memorize the shape of her lips before her hands fly to my chest as she tries to push me away while kicking and huffing. Typically, I'd get triggered, but as the back of my knuckles trace the outline of her perfectly sculpted cheekbones, I find myself utterly unbothered by her attempts.

“What are you doing out in this mess?” She flinches at my tone, drawing my attention to the sand clinging to her neck, so I drop my hand to wipe it away.

“I’m lost.”God, that fucking voice—airy and lightly rasping from uneven breaths.

“You didn’t think it through when you ran from the bobbies, did you?” My breathing is calm, but my heart hammers against my ribs like fists that used to fight me off.Wait…delicate knucklesarepounding against me. I chuckle. No one who knows me would be brave enough to make a move like that.

“Woah, now, easy.” I steady her by wrapping my hand around her neck and brushing my thumb over her rapid pulse. “I can offer you a place to stay—train, eat, sleep, fight. It's better than a cell.”

I expect a struggle, but she remains still, holding my gaze with a flush creeping up her cheeks.

“Are you offering to take me home?” I scoff at the flirtation in her voice. This isn't how a victim or a runaway typically reacts.

“What's your name?” I ask, pulling the conversation back to where it needs to be.

“If you want answers, then you need to give me something in return,” she murmurs, glancing toward the waves before looking back at the boardwalk.

“I’m taking you to Depth.”

She scoffs, mimicking my earlier sound, and shifts beneath me. I draw in a sharp breath, biting my cheek at the friction she creates.

“Yes, I’m taking you to the place I call home. Now it’s your turn: Name?” I tighten my grip around her throat, and the heat in her gaze returns.

“If you’re giving me a place to stay, I deserve a name too.”

My tongue darts out to wet my lips. I need to know her, but she’s elusive. Delicate and young, yet sinfully wrapped in flesh.Like a little devil.

“Alright then…” I pause, considering. The wind picks up, swirling her scent with sea salt, and I nearly salivate from the smell—subtle hints of jasmine.

I grin, focusing on the smooth skin gliding under my calloused thumb, “Jasmine. Once you join Depth, you’re bound to fight real wars. Lives are at stake.”

“Are you going to crush me while you ramble or take me to my new penitentiary?”

“It's not a penitentiary. There are worse places out there.” I grumble while griping her soaked shirt to pull her up with me, but she stumbles in the sand.

“Fuckin hell.” I huff, knowing we won't get far with her horrid footing against the storm. She screams and starts thrashing again as I scoop her into my arms.

“Just stay bloody still. I’ll protect you.” The words taste bitter; I’m not used to protecting anyone, but I guess it’s part of the job—at least, that’s what I’ll keep telling myself. I won't admit the fact that,for once, I don't want to take a life.I want to keep it.

“Go to hell.” She murmurs. I scoff while fumbling with my phone to call Caspian.

“Are you offering to take me home?” I quip, tucking the device between my shoulder and ear. She makes a strange sound, and I quickly scan her face to ensure it isn’t from pain. Her nose crinkles slightly, and her lip is tucked between her teeth as if she’s trying not to smile. Was she laughing? I can’t remember the last time I made someone react that way. Caspian has a sarcastic chuckle now and then, but this was genuine—something fromher—andIcaused it.

“Status report?”Caspian answers.

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