8. EVERLY

EVERLY

EIGHT

" G et off me!" I scream as Bucky the filthy asshole trucker drags me by my hair around the back of this run-the-fuck-down truck stop. I don't think I'm supposed to make it out of here alive. Bucky tosses me into the back room, using his boot to shove my back, making me fall forward on an open tool box. I hiss in pain as the corner slices my palm.

"Shoo wee!" he calls loudly while gripping my hair again and yanking me to my feet. "I don't know about you, Sweetheart, but I've been looking forward to bustin' this ass since I watched you bouncing it down the highway."

"Get. Off!" I grit out while trying to elbow him. He blocks me while unfastening my jeans.

"Oh, I'm about to." I gag at his voice as he shoves me to the floor. Ronan's phone falls from my pocket and I notice that, unlike before, the screen isn't locked. And there's a green light on the top. Is… Is Ronan tracking me? Is he listening?

"Ronan," I whisper as I hear Bucky removing his belt. "I'm sorry. Just know, this was not your fault. I don't blame you, and you're not a monster."

"Are you saying your prayers there, Sweetheart?" Bucky chuckles as he gets to his knees. "Because God ain't saving you this time." He leans over and I know it's now or never.

"I know," I whisper before rolling over onto my back. "I'm saving myself," gripping the chisel I grabbed out of the tool box, I drive it into the side of his neck. He begins to sputter as blood shoots out. It takes everything in me but I grip the chisel's handle tightly as I drag it across his throat, slicing it open and bathing me in his blood.

Bucky's lifeless body collapses on top of me and I instantly wiggle free before scooting myself back against a wall, bringing my knees to my chest. I'm mildly aware of Ronan's phone vibrating, but I don't reach for it. I can't, my body is frozen, as if in shock, even though my mind is racing. Every single thought racing through my head and not one is regret. Well not regret for this. Regret for leaving Ronan though, god I have so much regret for that. I should've stayed, should've dropped to my knees and told him the truth. That I wasn't scared of him or his darkness, but I was scared of getting in deeper, and losing him.

The door flies open and I know it's Ronan; I don't have to look, I can feel his overwhelming presence.

"Oh my god," he breathes out as he rushes to me. I notice he places his gun on the floor behind. His hands go to touch me but he pulls back, as if in fear. His eyes scan me frantically. "Where are you hurt?" he manages and I finally look up at him, cocking my head to one side. Hurt? I hold my sliced palm up, noting it's covered in drying blood. I had no idea blood could dry so fast. Though maybe it's been a while? How long have I been sitting here?

"Everly!" Ronan's desperate voice pulls me out of my haze as his hands grip my face. "Angel, w-what… are you hurt?" I shake my head slowly as my eyes travel to Bucky, he's face down in a pool of blood.

"I…" My voice sounds so far away, like I'm hearing myself talk in another room. "Didn't—there was no knife. I-I couldn't twist," I whisper, staring up at him as the burning sensation hits my eyes. "I couldn't twist," I say again as it all begins to hit me. "Oh my god, I slit his…he bled… so much, Ronan." My bottom lip wobbles as I stare at him. I'm not staring at Ronan the serial killer though. There is so much fear, worry and love in his face, in his stare. And it's all directed at me.

"Everly, baby, you're in shock." Am I? No I can't be. My brain is working. I mean my body isn't listening but…

Ronan pulls me to his chest and it's now I realize I'm sobbing. When did I start crying? Why am I crying? What is happening to me?

"Hey, Pops," a male voice drawls as he walks into the back. "Hurry up with the bitch, I gotta ship her to—" He stops talking when he sees the gory scene before him and Ronan's pointed suppressed pistol at him.

"Ship who?" Ronan growls, standing up and pulling me behind him. The guy, maybe my age, clears his throat as he looks at Bucky's dead body again.

"You killed my father?" He whispers in disbelief.

"He was trying to rape me!" I shout, startling both men.

"So you fucking slaughter him like a hog?! Look at you, you fucking freak!" Look at me? I look down at all the blood covering me, my clothes, my hair, the shoes Ronan got me.

"Oh no," I breathe out. "M-My new shoes!" a whimper escapes me as I look apologetically to Ronan. "I'm so sorry."

"Angel, I'll buy you as many pairs as you want later but now isn't the best time." He gestures to his gun and the guy.

"You fucking psychotic bit—" I gasp and cover my mouth as the bullet enters the man's head, exiting and spattering on the door behind him.

"I oughta shoot him again, fucker, calling you that." Ronan growls before turning back to me. "Are you with me, Angel?"

Are you with me? Not ‘are you okay'. He knows that's a stupid question. But am I with him? I think back through everything. There's no going back, there's no escaping him and there's no running from this. Do I really want to run? I did run but the entire time I hoped he was coming for me. Leaving him is not an option, my addiction to him running deeper than any logical thought or warning. Like a moth drawn to an alluring flame, I crave his presence and the intense heat that comes with it. Our union may be dangerous, like setting fire to gasoline, but I embrace the flames and am willing to burn within them as long as we burn together. Yes, I am irrevocably intertwined with him in every imaginable way, unable to break free from this passionate inferno we've created.

"Yes," I whisper as I step toward him slowly. He watches me as if he's waiting for me to freak out or bolt. I do neither, instead I jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist as my tongue plunges into his mouth. He growls, accepting my advances while slamming me into a wall before breaking the kiss. My hazy eyes look over him, his lips and mouth are smeared with Bucky's blood. An odd compulsion comes over me as I put my thumbs on either side of his mouth and trail them upwards, causing the blood to form red lines, looking like a smile. His brows furrow and I release a laugh. It's a small giggle at first but soon turns into a full-on cackle, it's not the smile that is making me laugh, no, it's that in the short time we've been together, through all the pain, murder, fear… through all of it, I've come out the other side, feeling more alive than ever. This man, this serial killer has awaken a side of me I didn't know existed, and instead of me feeling shame or disgust, I feel happy… free.

"I'm a monster," I whisper against his mouth.

"You are," he purrs while dragging his tongue up my chin and lips. "But so am I." I giggle before sucking on his tongue.

"I killed a man,"

"You did." He kisses the tip of my nose.

"And I have another I want to kill." He lets out a breathy chuckle.

"Easy there my love. Let's get the blood of your first off before you run to your next."

"Fuck me," I groan while grinding against him. He rolls his eyes in pleasure as he lowers me to remove my pants. He lifts me back up while freeing his hard dick before slamming it into me.

"Ohhh…now there's a pretty noise." He grunts while thrusting into me again. I'm frantic as I rip off our blood-stained clothes, our bodies covered in Bucky's blood.

"Harder," I rasp as his hand goes to my throat. "Ronan," I whisper as I feel myself coming around his cock.

"You're so perfect." He whimpers out as he continues to thrust into me over and over again. "My perfect angel, so fucking beautiful. My soulmate… baby I'm going to come in you and you're never leaving me again, do you understand me?" I nod over and over. This apparently irritates him because he thrusts deeper into me and holds me there, while staring in to my eyes.

"Do. You. Understand. Me?" His voice is a low and feral tone that I feel in my core.

"Yes," I whimper. "I'm never leaving. I love you, Ronan." I pant as he starts thrusting again. My words cause his movements to halt. He stares at me, jaw slack.

"What?" He breathes out, and I notice he looks almost afraid of my response.

"I said," I whine as I buck against him while kissing his lips. "I love you, Ronan." His lips consume mine as he thrusts into me again, and again, and again. I try to move away to scream as I come again but Ronan grips me tighter, consuming my cries while allowing me to absorb his as we come together sealing this bond between us. This bond it's unbreakable, sealed in the blood of our victim and fueled by a burning desire for more. More kills, more highs, more of each other. Just more. And I will never stop wanting, yearning, craving more of him and the life he's presented to me. And I know that he too is wanting the same thing.