I can hear the anger in his voice, and again, I should probably be scared knowing that I'm sitting in the presence of a murderer, but I'm not. I actually understand. I don't have any siblings, but I have people in my life I love, and if someone hurt them, I can understand how he would want to make sure they paid.
His baby sister, no less. I feel my throat tighten. Hot tears prick my eyes. I feel like I’m speaking around a lump in my throat when I ask, “How did you—?”
Ajax apparently anticipates my question because he interrupts me with, “I got out on a technicality. Turns out the arrest warrant was never properly signed, and the lawyer who did my appeal found what the shitty public defender didn’t. They had to release me even though they didn't want to.”
He looks down at me now, his eyes burning into me. “I may be a convicted murderer, Olivia, but I swear on my sister's grave I would never hurt you. I would give my life to protect you. All I want is for you to be safe. And happy.” His eyes heat as he adds, “And mine.”
My heart skips a beat. Ajax has been transparent with me from the beginning. He hasn't pushed me for anything physical, but he's made it very clear what he wants.
When I don't speak, he lets out a self-deprecating laugh. “You’re probably terrified of me now, aren't you?”
A few of my tears spill over, and his lips thin as he wipes them away. He looks like he regrets telling me the truth, but I shake my head and seek to set his mind at ease. “No, I'm not afraid of you. I've never been afraid of you. I could always tell you’re a good man underneath it all.”
His eyes are brown flames blazing down into mine. “You’re not a monster, Ajax,” I tell him as I lift a shaking hand to touch his cheek.
He closes his eyes and tilts his head into my touch like a dog starved for affection, and that image sears itself on my brain. My heart breaks for him. He had his sister ripped away from him, and he sought justice, and now he’s ostracized from society for it.
No, this man isn’t a monster. He’s a champion. A warrior who’s willing to go to war for the people he loves.
“Ajax,” I whisper his name, my voice shaky. His eyes snap open to blaze down into mine again.
We both hold our breath for a moment, and then I let the words tumble out before I can chicken out. “Make me yours?”