“Ready?” I ask Lux.
“More than ready. Let that fucker burn.”
A smile breaks over my lips. An authentic, truthful, and borderline loving smile. “Anything you want.”
The guys finish dumping the rest of the gasoline around the exterior of the building before gathering a short distance away. With their headsangled upward, they look on with prideful expressions. These men love this almost as much as I do.
I give Sebastian the final nod, and he steps forward. Within seconds, the fire races up the walls, engulfing the building.
I pull Lux with me as we all slowly back away, creating a distance between us and the flames. The powerful heat radiating off the fire pierces through my pricked, cool skin.
As the team’s eyes bore into the building that will soon collapse, mine are on Lux. The blaze reflects in her retinas as a subtle sparkle flashes across them. Although hurt and shaken up, she settles into a sense of peace. That visceral feeling I get when I claim someone’s life.
Lux’s hand comes up to my chest. Her wild, fierce eyes shifted now on me—and for half a second, I believe we might be the same.
Am I capable of loving another human?
Lux accepts all the sides of River Thompson: tech mogul, vigilante, and a hero who helped get her life back. Something I’d never thought possible.
Chapter 40
Lux
Ibarely make it out of the elevator when my sister jumps into my arms. “Lux!” she shouts, burying her face in my shoulder.
Tears immediately spill from my eyes. “Stevie.” I tighten, forcing a deep hug.
It feels so good to be in my sister’s arms. What also feels good is that I don’t have to hide what happened to me from her. The first time was difficult because I wanted to cry on her shoulder as we held each other like we were kids, but couldn’t. This time, I don’t have to hide it. She’s here and she knows everything.
River rests a gentle hand on my back, and in this moment I know I’m truly not alone.
“Lux, why don’t you and Stevie go get you cleaned up,” River says before pressing a soft kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll call Ben, and send over some food.”
“This late at night?” Stevie asks with a cheeky undertone.
River pays her no mind and heads toward the North Wing. “I’ll let you know when he arrives.”
I break from our embrace, keeping my arms locked with hers. “I’m glad to be home.”
Stevie lifts a brow. “Home?”
This is my home now.Riveris my home. “I’ve been here for so long, I guess I’m getting confused.”
Stevie’s body twists to the side, and finally takes a look at my state. “Are you hurt?”
“Not really.” I usher her toward my bedroom.
“But you’re covered in blood?”
A smirk plays on my lips. “That seems to be the norm for me lately.”
With her free hand, she twirls a corkscrew curl then flips it to the side. “Yeah, you’re definitely changing, big sister.”
I swing open the bedroom door and my eyes fall directly on the bed. A sudden memory of being secured to the mattress by Andrew a few hours prior flashes through my mind, sending my heart into a frenzy and my thoughts in a spin.
“U-uh,” I stutter, backing away.
“Are you all right?”
