Page 151 of Fall into Savagery

“I just have to burn it down?” I asked quietly.

Nikolay kissed my cheek and nodded. “Yup.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that, princess.”

I grabbed the Zippo from him, squeezing it in the palm of my hand. “And then?”

Damien placed his hand on my shoulder. “And then we go home.”

They make it all sound so easy. I wondered if it was that simple, or if the nightmares would still haunt me.

I swallowed and walked closer to the house.

The front door came into my vision, as did the memory of Roberto holding it open for me, clear sympathy in his eyes.

I had wanted to tell him to close the door so many times.

To let me stay out here and never have to enter again.

Wetness hit my cheeks.

I didn’t even know I was crying.

My men moved in closer to me, forming a protective circle.

I flicked on the Zippo and watched as the flame took hold.

Nikolay leaned down until his lips touched my ear. “Burn this place down, princess.”

I took a deep breath and threw the Zippo to where the gasoline was spilled on the porch.

Damien pulled me back until we were at a safe distance, and it didn’t take long for the house to be completely engulfed in flames.

Mikhail led me back to the car when the smoke started to become too much, and I looked behind me as we drove away.

The house was gone.

It was gone.

By the time the sun set, nothing would be left of it but ashes and memories in my head.

I wished I could have burned those too.

I didn’t know how I felt about the sight.

I was still trying to catch up to my own feelings, and not for the first time in my life, I wished someone would just tell me how I was supposed to feel.

To think.

I blinked.

“What about the cops?” I asked.

“No one will come by,” Damien answered me. “The house is isolated enough that it would be a while before someone even caught sight of the smoke, and by then, everything would be gone.”

I nodded and sat back down in my seat.

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