God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(43)

I place the utensils and the container on the ground. When I woke up back at the Elites’ mansion, Remi was being hyper, calling me his favorite spawn and asking me not to worry him anymore.

He also said that they got a call from the Heathens to come fetch me, so I thought Nikolai realized he’d made a mistake by knocking me out and they decided to let me go. Never would I have believed that Annika had something to do with it. The good girl Annika. The ‘conflict is evil’ Annika.

No shit, I actually heard her tell Ava that exact sentence once. Conflict is evil and should be avoided at all costs.

I thought Jeremy tightened the security around her and stopped her from coming to REU’s dorm due to worrying about her safety.

Turns out, he was specifically keeping her away from me.

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

She throws a hand in the air. “I didn’t think it was important.”

“It is. Didn’t I warn you against putting yourself in danger? I could’ve dealt with your brother.”

“And when would you have done that? Before or after the Heathens beat you to a pulp?”

“Doesn’t matter. I mean it, Annika. Stop sacrificing yourself for others. No one is worth it, me included.”

“I get to decide that, not you.”

“Annika,” I warn.

“Eight? Whatever.”

“Make it a nine.”

She releases a frustrated breath, but she eyes me with that innocence again. “Did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Burn the mansion?”

“You think I did?”

“I don’t know what to think. You have a history of arson at the Heathens’ compound. Why did you do that, by the way?”

“Nothing you need to know about.”

“Then how about showing up in my room? I think I have the right to know why you showed up there of all places.”

“I was trying to find an escape.” And I could’ve used any balcony, but I subconsciously jumped into hers.

It was easier to spot considering the purple cushions and girly Plushies in the patio.

Back then, I wasn’t sure why I made that snap decision to get into her balcony, but now I do.

Even when I thought I had absolutely no interest in Annika Volkov and her annoying, chattering presence, I still looked for her when she wasn’t around. I never voiced it aloud, but I noticed when she wasn’t there.

Despite myself.

Back then, she didn’t come to the girls’ apartment for three days and was confined to her brother’s mansion.

And a part of me wanted to see her.

Her shoulders drop at my answer, but she says, “Is that what the second fire was all about? You couldn’t finish the job with the annex so you decided to widen your scope?”

“And risk your life in the process?”

“Small sacrifices for the greater good, right?” Her whole body goes rigid and her fingers tremble. She doesn’t want to believe her words even as she says them.

“If that’s what you think, we’re done here.” I get up.

Annika jumps up with me and grabs my arm. “Is it true?”

“I don’t know. You tell me. Do you believe I would hurt you, then save you and your brother?”

She remains silent.

“Do you fucking believe that, Annika?”

“No,” she lets out in a small murmur. “But I want to hear it from you.”

“I would never hurt you.”

A long breath rushes out of her, and the light slowly returns to her eyes. She smiles a little and stands in front of me, close enough that I’m dwarfing her. “Outside of sex, you mean.”

“Outside of sex, brat.”

“What if it gets to be too much and I really can’t take it anymore? What do I do then?”

“Pick a word and say it. I’ll stop.”

“Ohh, like a safe word?”

More like a break from my darkness. But I nod. “Yeah, a safe word. What do you want it to be?”

“Violet,” she says without thinking. “I don’t like it as a color. It’s less superior than purple.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Because you’re starting to get to know me. Congrats on becoming a VIP.”

I flick her across the forehead teasingly, not hard enough to hurt.

She slaps a palm on the assaulted skin. “What was that for?”

“For your smart little mouth.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment—oh no!” She stares up at the sky as it opens and rain pours out. “My hair. Come on, England. Damn it.”

She runs to the door that leads downstairs with her hands covering her head.

Upon finding refuge in the doorway, she looks behind her to find me standing where she left me.

I’m staring up at the sky, letting the rain soak me in seconds. I close my eyes and allow it to wash over me.

I’ve always loved the rain.

It rained when I woke up in the hospital that day and the day I met Mum and Dad for the first time. In a way, rain rinses away everything.

Including a bloody past.

It gave me a new beginning, even if only temporarily.

“Creighton, what are you doing?”