Page 111 of Corrupt Me

“It is a good plan. We would have been home by the time you woke up tomorrow.”

“Could I have slept without you by my side?” he asks, erasing the space between us, his chest brushing mine.

I tilt my head up. “No.”

“Since the moment I confessed to you, I have watched you, knowing you’d do something because if you’re as crazy as me, then that is what I would have done.”

I opt for sincerity. “I didn’t want you to have to see her ever again.”

My face falls, and he tips my chin up by sweeping two fingers under it, then splays his hand on my cheek and neck.

“You. Alive. Safe. If you’re not in my life, this world won’t be ready to face the darkness in me once I unleash it. You’re holding it at bay.”

Determination fills every crevice in my body. “No one hurts you and gets away with it.”

“I told my father you went with the girls to avenge me, and he said, ‘Son, she’s a keeper.’ Do you want to know what I replied?”

I nod, incapable of forming words because he makes it impossible to think clearly.

“I’m aware, and I intend to keep her. I’d find you every time.” He rubs a point on my neck, and it seems to soothe him, easing the tightness in his features. “I’d never jeopardize your safety. Because I live for you.”

Tears gather in my eyes, and I leap into his arms. “I needed to do this. I couldn’t help myself.”

“Mad together, huh?”

I bury my face in his neck. “Mad together.”

He carries me inside and shuts the door with his foot.

“Can we do a bit of sightseeing?” Abi asks with a cute pout.

“Only if you fucking promise not to do something like this again,” Kaden says, rubbing at his temple.

The girls and I exchange a look, keeping silent, not wanting to lie to them. Who can guarantee something won’t happen in the future?

“Fuck,” Blake says, aware of that.

“It’s not that we want to do it on purpose, but we’ll let you know next time,” Celine says in a soft but resolute tone.

It’s the guys’ turn to exchange a knowing look.

“Fine. But we won’t separate, and we stay vigilant,” Kaden says, giving in.

Room service delivers shortly after the guys’ arrival. Once we finish our meals—sharing our food with the guys—we head out to sightsee. The guys wear caps, and we have our own incognito attire: sunglasses and wigs. It’s reckless, but I think the vacation opened a door we can’t close again. We need more of these easygoing times.

London is eclectic and vibrant. A multicultural, cosmopolitan city where old and new mesh together—pieces of history mingling with contemporary culture. It’s permanently bustling as locals and tourists navigate their way through the metropolis.

I sigh deeply, and Hunter pulls me to him. “What is my girl thinking about?”

“How I want more of this.”

“I’ll make sure you get it.”

I believe him. I lift onto my toes to plant a kiss on his mouth. We take some pics and visit a few tourist locations, from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace.

It’s night by the time we reach the boarding school. I’ve learned that Alice moved into Cillian’s cottage on the school grounds.

On the way there, I hack the cameras and freeze the image for one hour. While we move stealthily from one bush and tree to the other, Celine makes it to the front door and unlocks it with a bobby pin.

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