He chortles. “Now you’re simply getting sappy.”

“No, I imply it,” I say. “If you happen to weren’t right here proper now, I don’t know who I’d be or what I’d do. You’re a bit of me, one these snakes might by no means contact. And…” I look down as I keep in mind the joys of a gun in my palm. “I need you to be there to remind me of who I’m if I lose sight of it. All proper?”

Elijah squints, although I do know he understands. He’s the one one who would perceive.

He pushes my tattered hair behind my ears and cups my cheeks. “I’m not going anyplace,” he says, his voice rigged and assured. “Ever. And neither are you. All proper?”

I swallow across the lump in my throat. “All proper.”

Elijah pulls me nearer and kisses my brow. I relaxation my head in opposition to his chest, feeling immediately at residence once more.

Feeling protected.

Perhaps for the final time.

Chapter 23

Lilah

Now

I get up the following morning in my very own mattress with no reminiscence of how I acquired right here.

There’s a glass of water on the bedside desk. I stare by means of the clear liquid, making out the acquainted faces within the image body behind it by the lamp.

Me and my brothers once we had been youngsters. Brilliant eyes and smiling faces. Younger and energetic.

We didn’t know any higher again then.

I bury my head in my pillow for one more hour or so earlier than pulling myself off the bed.

I hear the 2 of them speaking however their voices shortly fall as quickly as they hear my toes on the steps.

Lucy meets me on the backside and gives a sort smile. “Hey,” she says.

“Hey…” I repeat, stepping round her.

Dante sits in his chair on the kitchen desk with a full plate of breakfast in entrance of him, however he hasn’t touched a chunk of it. There’s a recent bandage on his brow, haphazardly positioned over the lower on his left eye. I can’t assist however assume what Elijah would say if he noticed it.

“Are you hungry?” Lucy asks me.

I shake my head. “No,” I say, plopping into the chair throughout from Dante.

“Espresso?”

“No.”

I don’t imply to sound impolite. I do know she gained’t take it that means, however I nonetheless supply her an apologetic look. Lucy smiles once more with understanding, shortly embracing the care-taking position. We did the identical for her after her father was killed. It is smart that she’d step up now.

She fills a glass of water and units it down in entrance of me anyway earlier than taking the seat subsequent to Dante.

I take a look at the empty chair beside me. Elijah’s chair. I nonetheless really feel like his toes will come skipping down the steps at any second. Unusually, I by no means need that intuition to go away me.

“We left him there,” I say, although I don’t imply to.

The phrases slip off my tongue earlier than I even understand it. However what’s carried out is finished.

Dante stares on the desk. “We didn’t have a alternative.”

Supply: www.seynovel.com