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She coughs hard and bodily, her neck retching, and a gush of water comes from her mouth. Her eyes fly open, and she gasps in scratchy but unobstructed breaths. My body feels high. In fact, I can’t feel it at all with the rush I feel at seeing color return to her cheeks.
I scoop her into my arms and cradle her face with my hand. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” I chant, shock and relief wiping my mind clear of any thoughts that aren’t my love for this woman.
I’m incapable of saying anything else for a few moments. But when she lets out a raspy Ro, I finally find the ability, my throat raw and twisted. “I’m fucking marrying you, Cortez.”
Her eyes struggle to stay open, but her mouth twitches in something resembling a smile. “Do I have any say in this?”
“Absolutely not.” I sob and laugh at the same time as I clutch her to my chest and kiss the top of her wet hair. “You’re mine, Reggie, and I’m never losing you again.”
“You didn’t lose me,” she says softly into my shirt.
“I thought I did, and that was enough.”
Our medics finish checking out Reggie, and all I want to do is take her far away from this island and let my brothers and Daniel’s men deal with the bloodbath and surviving women. But there’s still one more thing to do.
Moonlight, rather than sunlight, streams between the break in the trees, but the pit still feels the same—like hallowed ground and contaminated wasteland at the same time. Nausea rolls in the back of my throat as the fresh memories batter my mind.
The moon has replaced the sun, and Daniel has replaced me. His injured shoulder hangs at an unnatural angle. It feels surreal to walk onto these sands with Reggie, alive and safe. Especially as we pass the stain of blood in the sand from the woman I saw Reggie in when her throat was slit.
I explained everything to her, and she was in agreement about what had to be done. But now, as we stand in front of Daniel, there’s conflict written all over her face.
“I don’t know what to say to you—”
“Then don’t say anything. There’s nothing I want to hear from someone who set their best friend up to die anyway,” Daniel sneers, then spits at her feet. I push forward, but Reggie’s arm shoots out to stop me.
“I had nothing to do with Sofia’s death, and neither did my father.” She impresses me with how even-keeled she is, how steady her voice is. “It would have broken her heart to see what you’ve become.”
“Don’t you dare speak for her, puta.” She doesn’t flinch at his words, only closes her eyes with a heavy sigh.
“You deserve so much worse for everything you’ve done.” She swallows once, then continues with something lighter in her tone, like acceptance. “But for Sofia’s sake, it will be a quick death.” Then she holds her hand out for my gun.
I see the shock flash across his face that she’s really condemning him. But then it’s gone as he armors himself in the hatred that has gotten him this far. “Go ahead, kill me like you killed her. At least you’ll be honest about it this time.”
She glances up at the sky and blinks away the tears I’m sure are welling in her eyes. She’s not a killer.
She composes her face into a stoic mask and looks at me. “Your gun, Roan.”
She’s not a killer. But I am.
I pull the trigger.
His head snaps back as the bullet kills him instantly. Her hands fly to her mouth, and she sucks in a shaky breath before letting out a wailing sob. It sounds like grief and relief, both mourning the man he could have been and relieved that who he became can never hurt anyone again.
She presses her lips together, and her brows furrow as she turns to me. “Thank you.”
I tuck my gun away and pull her into me. “I’ll always be your monster, you only have to be my light.”
1. Even If It Hurts—Sam Tinnesz
2. Atlantic—Sleep Token until end of chapter
Chapter 30
Sweet Love
Reggie
One week later
