Page 128 of Redeeming the Villain

“Hey! Stop!” they call out for me, but I’m already cocking my arm back and plunging it as hard into his face as I possibly can.

I deliver blow after blow, and his face becomes covered in blood. I can’t even form a word; all I can do is swing at him, hitting him with as much force as I can muster.

But just like before, I’m pulled away, ripped upward by those damn strong hands.

Staring down at the man, I commit everything about him to memory. I will make him pay for what he did to my brother if it’s the last thing I ever do.

But I didn’t need to memorize his face or his license plate because the next day, he shows up at my front door and talks to my uncle.

The day after that, two brand-new cars arrived on our doorstep. I don’t want to take the car, but I know it’s my only way to get away from my uncle, from the haunted house he’s raised me in.

I pack everything I’ve ever cared about into two plastic bags—most of which are Micah’s butterflies and a few odds and ends.

A week later, that house is empty. My uncle moves to a much nicer place, a place he doesn’t belong, a place that was paid for with my brother’s blood.

A month later, no service has been held, no memorial. It’s as if Micah never existed in this town.

I threaten to tell the truth about that night, but my uncle says the moment I open my mouth, the police will put a bullet in my head. It isn’t just the EMTs who are on Congressman Briarwood’s payroll and helped cover it up; it’s the cops too. The corruption runs deeper than I can probably imagine.

I wish I could fight for justice for Micah, but my uncle has one last thing to use against me. The only part I have left of my brother—his ashes.

“Y-you love me?” Her voice is wary and thick with emotion.

Nodding, I grab her face, and her breath is warm on my rain-soaked lips. “Yes, Alora, I love you. I love you so fucking much. And I can’t lose you. I can’t pretend that you aren’t it for me. You’re the only person in this world I can’t live without.”

Her eyes well with tears, and her lips tip up into a quivering smile. “I love you too.”

Every wall and reservation wash away from her as she melts in my grasp, like my declaration brought her the utmost peace. Little does she realize, it’s done just that for me too.

Caressing the back of her head, I crush my lips to hers, kissing her like I never have before. It’s different this time. It’s more—somuch more.

She fists her hands in my wet shirt, her body melting into mine, a hunger behind her every movement. As much as I want to continue down that path, we can’t. Not yet.

“Wait.”

She blinks rapidly, and I stroke her cheeks with my thumbs.

“I have to tell you something … a lot of things actually.”

She stiffens slightly, and recognition dawns in her eyes, like she’s been waiting for this moment. “My dad. You said you won’t let my dad stop us.”

I nod. “There’s more to it than that.” I wince, still hating that I have to be the one to ruin the image of him in her mind. “You might think I’m a dick for not telling you sooner. You might even hate me. I really fucking hope you don’t, but I couldn’t blame you if you did.”

“Y-you’re kind of scaring me now,” she murmurs, walking over and sitting down on the edge of her bed, next to where Sunny is curled up in a ball. “But first, please change so you’re not in freezing cold clothes.”

I didn’t even realize I had been shivering this badly. “Don’t peek.” I crack a joke, even in this insanely serious moment.

She rolls her eyes and playfully covers them with her hands before spreading her fingers apart and gawking at me fully.

Stripping out of my wet T-shirt, sweats, boxers, and socks, I thank my past self for stashing clothes here. I change into a clean Legends hoodie, sweatpants, and socks.

She inches back on the bed to make room for me, but I can’t help but be hesitant as I walk over to it, feeling that I might deserve to sit on the floor rather at the same level as her.

“First, I need to—” she starts to say at the same time I mutter, “I’m sorry to tell you about this.

“You go,” I urge her, trying to gain confidence in the extra second it’ll give me.

“The day that my father was on campus …” She pauses, holding my stare.

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