Page 103 of Bulletproof

“Yeah, I think I am.”

His gaze tells me that he’s not sure I’m telling the truth and that he’ll be bugging me more about it later, but he nods. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know about any of it until earlier yesterday. I didn’t know what Nolan did to you.” He bites his lip and shakes his head as if it’s his fault this was my fate. “But a sick part of me is happy that we ended up this way. I love you exactly as you are.” His smile tugs at my ?heartstrings.

“The only difference is that you knew what he was making you into and I didn’t,” I say gently. “You carry a much heavier weight.” I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him in for a tight hug. “I love you, Roman. I don’t want my memories tobe anything but you and what we make ourselves from here on out.”

He makes a lovely humming sound. “You feed the possessive heart I have for you, Squirt.” He holds me close and whispers, “I know this sounds so fucked up, but I think I want this, Briar. I want to be the new general… Maybe I can be better than Nolan ever was.” Roman doesn’t sound like he wants to do right by anyone.

I pull back and look into his grim eyes. I find anger and hope dancing across his gaze. A malicious mind that only cares about his few comrades and me.

“Better at creating man-made monsters?” I whisper.

There was darkness in Roman from the very first night we met. That darkness always called to me. I see it now, swallowing his conscience whole and tempting him with the same power Nolan had.

Roman’s eyes heat at my question, and he leans in to steal a kiss. His answer is concise, pupils dilating for a twisted future he’s already picturing for us. “Yes.”

What will be left of Bane Falls once our darkness takes root?