Page 57 of Savage Keepsakes

“I’ve wasted more than half my life looking for someone to call mine. I think you might’ve saved me,” he whispers.

When his hair is done, I pull off the gloves.

“What could I possibly save you from?” I ask, his dark gaze burning into mine.

“Myself.”

When I reflect on how he’s saved me, I can’t help but feel grateful for the escape from the dark abyss that could have consumed me.

“You were fine without me.”

“Darkness surrounds me. I play with death for work, Lou. But you walked in, and I didn’t think you’d want anything near what I wanted, but I’m forever yours, and you’ll always be mine.”

I smile, his words touching little parts in my brain that make me feel like we’ll be alright. Maybe I’m not as broken as everyone has told me in the past.

“Well, that got deep. So, wanna set someone on fire?”

“No. I wonder if it makes more sense,” I say, sitting on the couch.

“Because of the shock?” he purses his lips.

“Yeah, like how long it would take. There are other things, but this would be the next scene I write, after filling out so many details and developing their relationship.”

“What’s the other thing?”

He leans back in the chair, toeing off his shoes. I observe his mismatched socks, a sense of joy washing over me. He’s the person I’ve been searching for all my life, a sanctuary where I can be myself.

“Well, since the eye socket won’t work, what about the skull?”

Billy twirls his moustache and bites his lip. “What do you mean?”

Heat climbs up my neck, realizing maybe it’s too far.

“Like, if you drilled a hole. Never mind,” I whisper.

Launching forward off the chair, he firmly grabs my chin, locking eyes with me.

“No. I’ll do some research. I got you, darlin’,” he whispers before kissing me hard.

Billy stands and heads to the bathroom. The water runs so quietly here.

I wander around the apartment. His bedroom is a corner of the small space with a curtain across it, an old single mattress on the carpet.

His clothes are folded and stacked on the floor. Several piles of bloodstained clothing sit in thecorner, and my heart stops until I realize they must be workwear.

“What do ya think?” he asks from behind me. I jump.

Turning to look at him, it’s perfect. He almost looks like a sexy Joker.

“Love it. What do you want to do for dinner tonight?”

He walks into the room and drops the towel. My gaze sweeps his body and my core clenches.

“Pizza? We can pick it up on the way through town.”

Billy puts on a pair of ripped jeans, a black band tee and swipes a dark hat before placing it backward on his head.

“Ready?”

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