Hexed (Never After, #6)

by Emily McIntire

That’s the thing about grief, I guess. It steals the air from your lungs just as you’ve finally figured out how to breathe.

“Watch your mouth,” he says slowly, his New York accent coming through strong, dropping the r and elongating the vowels. “You won’t disrespect yourself to me.”

“I don’t have to know you to see the same thing in your eyes that lives in mine, and I get the distrust, and the walls, and the being constantly on guard. I respect it. But I promise you don’t have to do that with me. Just be real, okay?”

Her gaze drops to watch the movement, skimming along my body and resting on where my gun is on display, holstered at my side. I repeat the motion of rolling up my other shirtsleeve until both my forearms are exposed, and then I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. A lock of my hair falls on my forehead with the motion, and I run my fingers through the strands, pushing it back into place. Then I quirk a brow at her.

Because fuck her if she thinks I’ll allow her to disappear with another man on her arm when she came here with me.

I’ve always known I was depraved, but it’s not until this very moment I see how deep that depravity runs because watching Venesa cut off someone’s hand has me realizing that violence does, in fact, turn me on.

He licks his lips. “In fact, I can’t see anything but you, and it’s fucking infuriating.”

“I won’t,” he repeats. “But I want to, so fucking bad that it feels like I can’t breathe.” “Well, sometimes what we want doesn’t matter.” I try to make my voice sound stern, but I don’t think it works based on the way it wobbles as it hits the air. His face lowers until it’s next to my ear. “Sometimes…it feels like you’re the only thing that does.”

“In a different life…” I pause, emotion suddenly clogging my throat. “I’d love you out loud.”

reminding me that at least once, there was someone who made me feel loved out loud. And I’ll accept nothing less again.

“I’m all yours, piccola sirena, if you’ll have me.”

“Don’t be scared,” I tell her. Kiss the girl.

I’m being serious, but all he does is laugh. “I sent her. Pick out whatever you like, make the place your own. Erase your cousin and everything she’s ever touched.”

“See ya later, Lover Boy.” I hiccup softly. And for the first time since I was a child, I’m crying.

Because life’s too short to not hold the ones you love close.

So I’m going to find her, and then I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving her out loud, just like she deserves.

laugh. “Sweet Cousin, that’s what I do. Getting things done? I live for it.”