I chuckle, but there’s no real humor in it. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got Carolina to keep me in check.”
Ruby’s smile is small, but it’s there. “She’s good for you, Nick. Don’t lose sight of that.”
“I won’t,” I promise, and I mean it. Carolina’s the one thing in this world I won’t let slip through my fingers.
Another pause, this one longer, as if we’re all searching for the right words to say. But nothing comes. There’s nothing left to say, really. We’ve said our goodbyes, even if we haven’t spoken them aloud.
“I’ll check in on you, Jack,” I say finally, my voice gruff. “But take care of yourself, okay? Don’t rush getting back on your feet.”
He smirks, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. You know me, always taking it easy.”
Ruby’s voice is soft as she adds, “And Nick… take care of yourself, too. You’ve carried us all for so long. It’s okay to let go a little.”
I swallow hard, nodding once. “I’ll try.”
The call ends with a series of quiet goodbyes, and then the screen goes dark. The room feels emptier now, the silence heavier. We’re all going our separate ways, and though we didn’t say it, the truth is clear.
Chapter 35
The Breeder
Two days pass in a blur, and I barely move from the bed. My heart feels shattered, and every time I try to pick up the pieces, they slip through my fingers. The weight of grief, guilt, and Caspian’s words crush me—you’re making Nick weak.The last thing I ever wanted was to be a burden to him, to be the reason he falters.
Nick stays with me as much as he can, his presence both comforting and suffocating. Every time he’s near, the guiltgnaws at me harder. Caspian’s voice echoes in my mind, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m failing, that I’m dragging Nick down when he needs to be strong.
But finally, Nick’s had enough. He comes to me with that determined look in his eyes, the one that leaves no room for argument. “Get up, Carolina. You need to get dressed.”
There’s no room for refusal. I drag myself out of bed, my limbs heavy as I pull on clothes that feel foreign against my skin. The warmth of his hand is steadying as he leads me out of the apartment, down to the car.
We drive in silence, the tension thick between us. I know where we’re going before we arrive—Caspian’s estate. The place that now belongs to Nick, the place that holds so many memories, none of them good.
Nick’s voice breaks the quiet. “I spoke with Ruby and Jack. They don’t want the estate. They have no interest in it.” His eyes flicker to me as he continues, “But I need to know if you want to live here. We can make it our own. Wipe away the past, shape a new future.”
As soon as we step inside, my mental images of pools of blood and bodies are put to shame. The house is clean, too clean, and the overwhelming smell of bleach wraps around me, making my nostrils flare.
Despite the scent, the air is heavy with history, with the ghosts of everything that happened here. I feel like I’m suffocating under the weight of it, but I force myself to keep moving, to keep looking.
We walk through the rooms, and I take in every detail. The dark, oppressive decor, the outdated furniture, the way the walls seem to close in on me. But as I walk, I start to see it differently. I imagine brighter colors, open spaces, a place that could be filled with warmth instead of the cold shadows of the past.
By the time we finish the tour in the basement where Nick killed his dad, something shifts inside me. I turn to the man who owns my heart, my voice steady for the first time in days. “Let’s do it. Let’s make this place ours. We can erase the old memories and create new ones.”
Nick’s relief is palpable. He nods, and together, we start to talk about what we could do—tearing down walls, bringing in light, making it modern, making it ours. It’s the first time since everything happened that I feel a glimmer of hope, a spark of something better. Maybe, just maybe, we can take this place that was filled with so much pain and turn it into something new, something good.
“There’s something we have to do first,” I say, pulling on Nick’s hand when he turns to walk back upstairs.
“What’s that?” he asks, curiosity lilting his words. “If you want, we can destroy the basement, and—”
Shaking my head, I lick my lips. “No, that’s not what I want.” I tear on the buttons of my coat, throwing it to the side at the same time as I kick off my shoes. “I want to make it ours.”
He smirks knowingly. “It’s already ours, Hellcat,” he deadpans.
I roll my eyes and pull my sweater over my head before hooking my thumbs into my pants, slowly pushing them down my legs. “Well, if you don’t want to mark it with me, I’ll just do it alone.” I cup my heavy breasts, squeezing the flesh in my hands.
“Fuck no,” he growls. Within seconds, he’s on me, shoving me back against the wall. His lips claim mine in a hard kiss while he ruts against me. “All your orgasms are mine!”
I lick his tongue with mine, tugging at his hair as I deepen the kiss. I kiss him with an intensity that’s so hot I’m almost surprised the basement isn’t catching fire. “All yours,” I reply before biting down on his bottom lip. I don’t let go until the skinbreaks, and he hisses when blood forms. “So stop holding back and give me some.”
Pulling back, he lets out a surprised chuckle. “Holding back?” he questions, his dark gaze trailing over my naked body. “I think you need a reminder of your place, Hellcat.”
