Page 75 of The Hellkeeper

His eyes are locked on my feet, his jaw tight. He still blames himself for not finding me sooner. For not being able to take me to the hospital that night without falling apart.

I don’t like anyone touching me. He hates anyone else touching me. A match made in heaven…or hell.

She finishes up, securing the last bandage.

I finally breathe. “Thank you.”

As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, Damien’s phone buzzes in his pocket.

He turns to stone.

He pulls it out, glances at the screen, and starts to stand, carefully moving me off his lap. I react instantly, my fingers wrapping around his wrist.

No.

No secrets.

Not anymore.

I don’t say it aloud. He sees it in my eyes.

He makes his choice. He answers.

“I don’t know where your daughter is, Richard.”

A pause. He cracks his neck.

“If you don’t have a tight enough leash on her, that sounds like your problem.”

I can only hear his side of the call, but I don’t need more.

It’s Richard. Linda’s father.

“Didn’t you arrange her marriage? If she ran, that’s on you.” His voice sharpens. Cold. Unforgiving. “This is the last time I want to hear about this. Linda is not my business. Not my concern.”

I am.

Only me.

He sounds convincing. But we both know where Linda is. Somewhere in Hell, her ashes scattered with the dirt. Good riddance.

Damien told me he broke one of his long-standing rules that night: he doesn’t kill women.

But Linda?

She wasn’t a woman. She was evil in flesh.

Neither of us regrets it. He tells me often, if he could go back, he would’ve made her death slower.

His thumb draws circles on my thigh, like he needs the reminder. I’m here. In his arms. And no one will take me away.

Linda took me to my death with a smile on her face.

Guess what, Linda?

Only one of us is still standing. And it’s not you, bitch.

I settle back beside Margaret, who looks too small in that bed. I have to keep reminding myself that we made it.

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