“Baby, it’s still me.” She didn’t appear convinced. “Do you love me?” I asked, changing tactics.
“What?”
“Do you love me, Trish?”
Her chin wobbled as her eyes threatened to spill more tears. “Since the moment you walked into the Blacktop.”
My lips quirked up a little on the sides and I ignored the bite and sting of pain that originated from the back of my head and the bump I could feel from where Moby knocked me out. “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw that pure and beautiful aura of yours shining like a thousand stars. You surrounded me in your light and penetrated the darkness. You touched me in a way no one else ever has.” I swallowed hard and held her gaze, refusing to let her look away. “I fuckin’ love you with every goddamn breath in my body. I fucked up, baby.”
She shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks faster.
“You can’t deny what’s between us. It’s like fuckin’ lightning and thunder. The flash and the boom just go together. You’re the bright and beautiful spark. I’m the heavy roar that brings reckoning.”
There was no truth greater than that.
“Grim,” she hiccupped, crawling closer.
“There’s no sunlight without you, Trish. Just darkness and endless rain. Fuck,” I cursed, taking a deep breath as all of the emotion within churned. “It’s shit when you’re not with me. I just move like a dark shadow from one day to the next.”
“Grim,” she repeated, her voice wavering. “I can’t live without you either. A part of me died. I thought I would never recover.”
She was crying so hard her shoulders shook and I hated the restraints and wounds that kept me from comforting her. The chains rattled as her arms wrapped around one of my legs. Her forehead pressed against the blood-soaked material of my jeans, but she didn’t seem to notice.
Wait.
None of this made sense.
There was a pregnancy test in the trash today. Not months ago.
“Trish? What about now?”
Her head lifted. “Yes, Dex. I’m pregnant again.”
After all of the sorrow that had taken root in my chest, this was a life-giving burst of pure sunshine and joy. “Fuck, Trish. I’m so happy.”
“You are?” There was uncertainty in her fragile voice.
“Yes,” I answered firmly. “We’re gonna get out of here, baby. I promise.” My Reaper rose to the surface and I let him take over. “Vengeance is ours, my angel.”
The chains snapped as I reached down and broke her free, tugging Trish against my chest. My lips found hers in a passionate kiss that cemented my claim. “You ready?” I growled.
She swiped across her eyes. “With you? Always.”
Always.
I liked the fuckin’ sound of that.
Taking her hand, I led Trish up the staircase slowly and listened for Moby to return. He was still yelling at someone over the phone and didn’t have a clue that we were free. He wasn’t the brightest guy out there and I shook my head, finding it ridiculous that he got the best of me.
A quick dip into my abilities let me know he was dumb enough to do this all on his own. Not a soul was on the property. Memories of Lockjaw, Keys, and my own torture surfaced with a vengeance. When the truth of what he’d done to Trish, how he’d beaten her and forced my child from her womb reentered my thoughts I growled with murderous rage.
“Stay here, Trish.”
She nodded, blinking at my transformation. I didn’t sense fear as much as awe. My Reaper enjoyed her reaction. He wanted to show off what he could do.
I left the through the door and silently crept along the ground, making my way toward my prey. The stupid cocksucker had his back to me. That was good because I was hoping he’d piss his pants when he turned and saw what was waiting for him.
“Boo,” I growled low, repeating what he’d said to me.