Page 249 of Boys Who Hunt
Well fuck, now I’m really blushing.
“I just did what anyone would have,” I say.
“No.” Heath’s voice makes me look up as he saunters into the hallway with all that swagger he usually carries, putting a big smile on my face. “You knew what she was signing. How?”
I shrug. “I just taught myself.”
His eyes narrow as a slow but hot smirk builds on his face. “It’s that book. I knew it.” He claps his hands. “I fucking knew it.”
“What book?” Ivy asks.
I shush him, but it’s too late.
Heath crosses his arms behind his head. “He learned sign language just for you.”
Her jaw slowly drops, and the sight of them both in awe makes me want to turn this hospital gown inside out just so I can hide.
“You learned it …for me?” she mutters.
“I wanted to be able to understand you, even if you weren’t able to communicate with words. I wanted to be able to meet your needs, so I could be there for you when you needed me to.”
She suddenly wraps her arms around me and hugs me so tightly I can’t breathe.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Don’t thank me. I only did what was necessary. I can’t really do it well either, but—”
She plants a finger on my lips. “Stop questioning yourself. You are more than I could ever ask for.”
She grabs my face and kisses me so hard I lose my breath as well as all of the thoughts swirling through my head about how I should’ve done better. All the doubts and worries instantly evaporate when she kisses me.
God, this woman.
She fought so goddamn hard to save herself and her little sister. She sacrificed her body and all the money in the world just to provide that girl with a little bit of safety, and I am in awe of her strength.
I would die for her, and I almost did … And still, it wouldn’t be enough to describe the depths of what I’m willing to sacrifice to walk beside her in this world.
Besidesthem.
Ivy
When our lips unravel,Max glances at Heath, waiting for me to turn around too so he can say what he needs to say. But I’m scared of the consequences, scared that when I do, I won’t ever be able to look away from them again.
But Max’s eyes reflect the longing in Heath’s eyes and all the terrible regrets.
Finally, I turn to look at him, and the agony in his eyes is almost too much to take. “Heath …”
He instantly drops to his knees. “I’m sorry.” His nails dig into his knees. “I’m sorry for ever doubting you, for buying drugs from Ivan, for trusting him instead of you, for not believing you when I should have, for punishing you by taking your body, and for not giving you all the money you needed to save Cora and yourself. I don’t fucking deserve your forgiveness … but I will beg for the rest of my life that you do. Because I cannot live without you. Either of you.”
Fuck.
I go to my knees in front of him, interrupting his train of thought by getting on his level.
“You didn’t know,” I say, grabbing his face. “It’s not your fault.”
I wish I could’ve told them straight off the bat, but I didn’t trust them enough with the truth … and it nearly makes me want to tear up because these boys literally killed to get to me.
“If I had trusted you, you wouldn’t have gotten captured by Stefano, and Max wouldn’t have been shot,” he continues. “And your mother would still be alive.”