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It’s just another reminder that kills me softly.
“Of course, she can go on that date. She’s free! Mija, I can drive myself home, you go with him. Okay?” My mother quickly cuts in, and I'm shocked at her persistence.
What felt like the longest minute in time, Danny’s deep voice finally says, “You didn’t deserve any of that. That’s not love. I sure as hell don't know what love is, but I know it’s not that. No man should ever put their hands on a woman. That’s a pathetic weak piece of shit.”
“Ari, I knew him. We were friends, best fucking friends. We met years back on my first deployment. We were on different teams, but we worked closely together. We did that a lot, actually. We’ve been friends for years. Yet…I never knew about you. Of course, no details were ever spoken about you. Paul was very private about his family life. All I knew was he had a younger sister and a mom waiting for him at home.”
“You wear your heart on your sleeve.” “That obvious, huh?” How embarrassing. I need to learn how to control my face. “Don’t be ashamed of that. That’s what makes you, you. Not many people do that anymore in this fucked up world. I think that’s my favorite thing about you so far. You’re rare.”
“So, why don't you?” I tease, my voice low. “I can’t.” “Why not?” “I respect you too much.” DISRESPECT ME.
After hearing Ari’s stories of her abusive ex-boyfriend, I can’t help but feel like I need to protect her for the rest of her life.
In a world full of pain and unforgiving people, I want to be a part of the good. I genuinely believe you can significantly impact someone's life just by smiling at them.
“If you touch her again, I’ll crush every fucking bone in your hands, and I’ll kill you. Don't ever come close to her again, Mitchell. I know all about you.” Danny snarls, threatening him.
“You're choosing her over me?” He looks at her, and without hesitation, he nods. “That's not even a question. It'll never be a question.” Nora flinches before he finishes, “but the answer is yes.”
Mine’s Grim Reaper. I have the most successful missions on the team and the highest kill count in the military, so everyone branded me with it. I didn't give it to myself.
“Oh? What's the poor girl's name?” “Jack Daniels. Now shut the fuck up, we're here.”
“Isn't that a sin, Ari? To screw me?” He licks his lips, antagonizing me further. “Plus, I'm not your type. I don't hit women like your ex.”
“This is the last time I’ll ever touch you.” He whispers, walking away from me.
i hope both sides of your pillow are on FIRE daniel
I can’t force her to go back home, but I’ll keep trying.
A part of me is angry that Kane has a more personal relationship than I thought with Ari.
I can feel a slight pull at my darkened heart as she smiles, and I grimace at the feeling.
Because I want to completely destroy her. Break her in ways that she'll learn to love.
“Actually, we didn't promise that last part.” He argues. “A promise that you didn't own up to. Why start now, Danny?”
“Wha— what did you just say?” Ari’s innocent voice was stunned with pain and shock.
“I hate you.” My heart drops, and my eyebrows narrow. I'm confused and thrown off by his words. It came out of nowhere. “What? Why do you hate me? What have I done to you?” “Exist.”
“Your existence alone brings me to my knees, and I hate you for that. I hate that you’ve invaded every part of my mind. Before you, I was a simple man. Work, train, sleep, eat, repeat. I didn’t have to fucking worry about anybody else. I hate that ever since I’ve tasted you, all I want to do is devour the rest of you. I hate that you’re Paul’s sister because it makes it even more fucked up to want you.” Danny snarls at me, his voice raising louder in my ear. I jump every time he says the word, hate.
“Most of all, I fucking hate that I don’t hate you.” His palm collides with the wall behind me, causing me to flinch.
“Exactly. I’m a man of my word. I won’t touch you. But I know you want me to. I know the way you tremble when I say your name. The way you blush every time you look me in the eyes. Or when you bite your bottom lip when you get so flustered around me. I promise you that if I touch you again and give in to everything I’ve thought about doing to you…you’re going to want more.” He growls. I stand there, taking in his request.
“Ari… This is the first and only chance I’m going to give you to run away from me. I’m growing impatient. My way of fucking isn’t sweet. It isn’t nice. It isn’t soft. If you let me, I will break you, but trust me, baby, you’ll keep wanting me to, begging me to. I don’t care if this is your first time. I won’t hold your hand through it. This is who I am. I like to blend pleasure with pain and fracture boundaries.”
“I’m going to go easy on your body this time, baby, don’t worry,” Danny reassures me, but I can’t help but feel like it's a lie. "Next time, you won't be so lucky. I won’t hold back like I am right now, and you’ll know what I really want to do to this perfect cunt of yours.”
“Once you pull down those pants, my cock will be the first and only that will ever be inside of you. Do you understand that, Ari? If I find out any other man tries to take what’s mine, he’ll wish he hadn’t.” He threatens into my ear. Something about his possessive threat has me even more drawn to him.
“Oh baby, I think you forget that I’m the military’s most lethal trained killer…” He smiles wickedly, and at this moment, I feel like Danny reveals a sadistic part of himself, and I’m not so sure I want to unravel it. “I’ve sent way too many souls to hell. I wouldn’t hesitate to send another if they even look at what's mine.”
“Cancel it. You are mine to take.”
“I want you so dangerously, Ari, but I’m no good for you.”
“Time waits for no one. Death is a shadow stalking the living. It is a dreadful, inexorable promise, and life is a lovely lie.”
This girl makes me feel like I’m not so bad after all.
She’s finally mine, and I think she's right. I don’t think I’ll ever leave her alone again.
The life I had planned for myself…over. I’ve never wanted to commit to any woman, but something about Ari was different. She makes me feel like I’m not a villain, a killer, or a monster. Nothing has ever been able to replace my poisonous addiction. But…she did. She’s better than whiskey.
“Don’t worry, Ari. I’m coming back home to you, I promise you. This is a first for me…but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Relax. I just want to take you to the moon, Ari.” He says sarcastically.
“Danny…oh, God!” I shriek, closing my eyes. “God?” He says it like I insulted him. “Don’t bother calling out for Him. He can’t hear you. There is no God when I’m around, baby.”
Death made his presence known, and he would collect souls tonight. But I would make damn sure I wouldn’t go down with them. I’ve got my little angel waiting for me at home.
I spent most of the day in bed, nauseous, constantly snacking, and watching comedy shows. This nausea is coming out of nowhere, and I'm starting to think I’ve picked up a stomach virus from the airplane.
“Don’t question my loyalty to you. No one has ever come close to the woman that you are. I’m not a liar. I’ve always been honest with you. I’ve been brutally blunt with every single girl before you with what I want and who I am. I never promised them anything but Ari… I promise you, you won’t ever have to worry about me being faithful to you.”
“Ari…you just gave me another reason to fight like hell to come back home.”
Then I feel another sharp pain, and I lose my breath. Shane drives a knife inside of me, this time from my back. He pulls it out, and I scream as loud as my lungs allow me to.
My baby. I’ll gladly die, but please, God, let my baby live.
Suddenly, Shane’s off of me, and I manage to pry my eyes open. But it takes too much energy to do so. The darkness tries to anchor me down, but I see familiar faces hovering over me before I close my eyes again. Danny and Kane.
Everything goes black, and the last thing I see is Paul. He’s in his Navy uniform and playing the guitar to a song we both love so much. He looks up from his guitar, his brown eyes meeting mine, and he looks like he’s glowing. He smiles and says, “Don’t fall asleep. Don’t fall asleep.”
After last night's confessions from both of us, I felt like this would be a fresh start to our relationship. No more secrets. Just our bright future with our little one.
