14. Olivia

Olivia

T wo armed guards appear at the top of the stairs, ready to kill anyone in their path. The moment they see Mose, they run like they’ve seen a cannibal demon covered in blood. Mose doesn’t even bother to follow them.

I arch an eyebrow. Are these Azael’s men? Cowards. “It looks like you owe them both a new pair of pants since you made them shit themselves.” Mose’s chest rumbles. In a serious tone, I add, “We need to get all the experiments we can out of here before this place is destroyed.”

“No,” Mose growls. “Leave. Now.”

“I have nothing against leaving, but there are innocent people here who need help to get out.”

“No. Mine!”

Just because we are bonded doesn’t mean he can order me around. He’s a Lord. Or a demon. Damn. This is too complicated. It’s in men’s nature to order women around or prevent them from doing anything they want. What makes this demon different from any other man?

“Fine. I’ll do it myself then.” Before Mose can protest even more, I add, “I’m not asking your permission; I’m telling you what I’m going to do. You can either help me or fuck off.”

I bite my bottom lip because I can’t believe I said that. It’s different with Azael because I’m not scared of him. He can’t do any more to me than what he has already done. But Mose and his blood-brothers are an entirely different thing. They never hesitate to punish me in the worst way possible, especially Tyson and Rueben. They are the ones who hate me the most.

Mose spanked me even when I was trying my best to do as I was told. I don’t want him to think I haven’t learned my lesson.

If I had this darkness inside me the night I killed Camila, she would still be here. I would have still lost him, but at least I would have had my best friend with me. Going on without her has been so hard.

I might not be the same Olivia from a month ago, but the guys are still the same. Rueben didn’t hesitate to kick me out of the farm or to tell me to die already. Once Mose and the others are safe, no one will ever see me again. There’s no point for me to live with this fucking pain that’s eating my soul day and night.

Mose doesn’t look angry, only resigned.

After a moment of hesitation, he says, “Fine.”

I never know what to say when a man agrees with me or does as I ask, so I kiss him. “Glad to see you can be reasonable. You can put me down now. My ankle is suddenly all better.”

Mose narrows his eyes, lifts up my legs, one by one, and quickly inspects them before helping me stand.

An alarm goes off, leading to mass hysteria. The screams are louder than before.

A loud No echoes throughout the entire facility, shutting everyone up, followed by the sound of metal falling. Just like that, we’ve been trapped inside. If we don’t find a way out in time, everyone inside will die. It will be quick, and I won’t be alone when it happens.

I glance at the mobile phone—the signal is gone. It’s a good thing I shared my location when I sent the SOS message. Maybe word of my whereabouts will reach him , and he will visit this place to say his final goodbye. I ask for too much. He will never do that. Not wanting to die with resentment between us, I let go of any negative emotions I have. I don’t forgive him because he deserves it, but because I’m so damn tired of blaming him for leaving me. For not being by my side when I most needed him . I made choices that led me to where I am today. If I want to blame someone, I should blame myself for not stopping Camila from taking the daggers from my father’s house.

But then, they would have fallen into Azael’s hands—except my father never gave them to him. It makes me wonder if my father knew what a threat Azael was and is, and that’s why he kept the daggers a secret.

Some questions will never be answered, and I don’t mind. I’ve lived my life and loved with all my heart and made peace with the idea that I’ll never be happy.

Camila is waiting for me.

So is my little boy with turquoise eyes.

The time to be reunited with them is almost here.

I only have one regret—that I never told Ansel how much I care for him. If we had more time, maybe, just maybe, I would have learned to love him—Jasper and Mose, too. Not the way they wanted or deserved, but it would have been genuine nonetheless. Maybe I would have let Ansel teach me how to be happy again. Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t tell him.

Interlacing my fingers with Mose so he won’t go batshit crazy and kill even more experiments, I say loudly, “Anton, time to find 919 and figure out our next steps.”

Anton doesn’t hesitate to leave the office. Mose snarls, which prompts Anton to say, “If you kill me, you’ll never get her out of here in time.”

Mose snarls louder, and I have to step in front of him. “You can kill any enemy we encounter, but friends are off the table. Let’s not waste any more time.” To Anton, I say, “Lead the way.”

Anton starts jogging.

Mose grabs my waist, throws me over his shoulder, and starts walking fast. The butterflies drag the Bitch after us.

“The only reason I’m not biting your caveman ass is because it’s covered in blood, and I don’t want to get sick with some strange disease,” I huff while I close my eyes because my stomach does not agree with how Mose is carrying me. He slaps my thighs hard. A warning that he won’t tolerate my bullshit like Azael did. I bite back a yelp. My tongue also, because I don’t want to invoke his wrath with my snarky comments.

Anton goes down the stairs, and Mose does the same. Or is it up? With my eyes closed, I can’t tell.