Darkness Within
Page 23
“So I guess I owe ya, huh?”
“Nah. Plus, I’m leaving town,” I say, pointing to the U-Haul.
“Oh yeah? Where ya headed?”
“Not sure yet.”
She tilts her head and studies me with curious eyes. “Running from the law?” she asks with a laugh.
I stare back at her and reply plainly. “What if I am?”
Her lips turn up. “Get your hands bloody again?”
“Have you?” I throw the question out there to see her reaction. She barely blinks.
She lifts her hands in the air, showing me both the front and back. “Look clean to me.”
“Mine do, too. But we both know blood washes off.”
“Hmm.” She looks past me and toward my truck. “I’ve been thinking of leaving town too.”
“Why’s that?”
She studies me with those warm chocolate eyes of hers. “Need a change.”
I nod. “I heard something interesting just a little while ago.” She doesn’t take the bait, so I continue. “I was listening to the news and they said a body was found at the same gas station you and I met at. In the women’s bathroom.”
Something flashes in her eyes, but it’s gone almost as fast as it appeared. “How is that interesting?”
“He was found the same day we were there.”
She adjusts her hat and then flashes me the same smug smile she gave to the clerk. “Funny. I found something that day, too.” I watch as she digs through her messenger bag and pulls a paper out.
Her eyes never leave mine as she hands it to me. I unfold the paper and come face to face with a list of my victim’s names.
“You found it or stole it?”
She scoffs. “It got mixed in with my stuff in your truck. Who’d think to steal a piece of paper?” She shifts her weight and smirks at me. “I recognize the last name on that list. Kathy Weber. She was just killed, huh?”
I ball the paper up and shove it into my pocket. “Indeed she was.”
“Interesting.”
“What’s more interesting is that you knew her. Isn’t that right?” I lean down and whisper in her ear. “Jayden.”
She backs up and doesn’t hide the surprise that blankets her face. She just confirmed what I had only been suspecting. “How?”
“You gonna deny it?”
“No,” she states, straightening her position and tossing her shoulders back. “I know who I am. Who are you?”
“Donovan. Donovan James,” I answer with a grin. “You killed them, didn’t you?” I ask, my voice rough and low. “Both Stanley and Kathy.” Her face stays stoic as she looks at me. “It’s okay. They deserved it, right?”
Her brows furrow briefly, surprise and confusion sitting heavily in her eyes. “I’m assuming you found out my story if you know who I am.” I nod. “Then I don’t even have to answer that, do I?”
“I suppose not.”
“How did you know Kathy?”
“I knew her when I was a teenager. She was my caseworker.”
“And?” she asks, raising her brows, knowing there’s more.
“And she kept me from seeing my mom when she was dying. She prevented me from going to her funeral. She kept me in a foster home with parents who shouldn’t have had kids in their care.”
“So you were seeking revenge too.” It’s not a question.
“You took that from me.”
“I won’t apologize for that.”
“You don’t have to, because I understand.”
“You may be the only one who does,” she says softly. “I take it those other names—”
“Are just that. Names. They don’t exist anymore.”
After a pregnant pause, she asks, “Aren’t you worried I’m going to tell someone?”
I almost laugh. “No, because I know your secrets too. Aren’t you afraid?”
She takes a few seconds to think about it. “Why would I be afraid of you? You’re like me. If I was afraid of you, you’d have to be afraid of me.”
“I think you should come with me,” I state plainly.
She grins. “Why’s that? Need protection?”
A deep laugh explodes from my throat. “I need someone who knows what it’s like to be like me, and I think I just met her.”
Her cheeks redden slightly. “Well, I probably do need to get out of here. And since you seem to know so much about me, I think it’s only fair for me to learn about you.”
“So, you coming?”
“Let’s go,” she says with a wide smile.
Inside the U-Haul, she puts her seatbelt on and asks me the question I’ve been asking myself. “So, is your list complete?”
I put my wrist on the steering wheel letting my hand drop over the top, and I stare out the window. “I thought it was.”
“Still seeking vengeance?”
“Those people have all been taken care of, but I still have this—”
“Darkness.” She whispers the word like she’s familiar with it.
I look over at her. “Yes.”
“I’ve been fighting my own for a while.”
“I’ve learned you can’t fight who you are.”
She nods her head and then looks over at me. “My list isn’t complete.”
I’m surprised by her statement. “Oh yeah? So where’re we going?”
Her eyes light up like two bright stars in the night sky. “Nevada.”
I start up the engine and pull out of the gas station. “Look out, Nevada.”
“Darkness is taking over,” she finishes.
We smile at each other, vanishing into the darkened streets of California. We leave behind a past we’ve both confronted, and head towards a future that may be unknown, but something we’ll both take on together.
She has a darkness in her, and while that would frighten most men away, I find beauty in the darkness. You can’t fully know someone until you know the dark side of them. We’re both aware of who the other one is. We may not know everything about each other, but we’ll get there. What matters is that from the very beginning, we don’t have to hide who we are.
There are no secrets. No lies. No manipulation. No hiding. Just two people bringing their darkness together and finding comfort within it.
“YOU TALK TO Nick?” Jayden asks me as I climb in the truck.
“Yeah. My house was sold and so far my name hasn’t been brought up when it comes to Miguel and Analeigh.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, but it’s only a matter of time. They’ll find out I was involved with her and want to talk to me.”
“Talking isn’t bad. I can give you an alibi for that night.”
I grin and lean over to kiss her lips. “That’s why I like you.”
“You better.”
“Leaving the state probably won’t look so good if they come looking for me, but my boss and co-workers all believe I left for a better job opportunity. Since I changed my number they won’t be able to contact me, but if I need to call in to give a statement, then so be it.”
“Since you and her were in a relationship, it wouldn’t be abnormal for them to find any traces of your DNA there in her apartment anyway. They don’t have proof you did it because they don’t have a weapon.”
I pat down my pocket where I always keep it. “I’d never leave my baby behind.”
She rolls her eyes playfully. “Anyway, things will be fine.”
“Yeah. Did you talk to Fred?”
She sighs. “Yes. Thanks for giving me his number. I’m glad I was able to let him know that I’m okay.”
I told Jayden all about how I found out who she was and made sure to pass on how worried Fred was about her. She surprised me by informing me that she didn’t even go to college, but she hung around campus because her two roommates were students there and they all lived in an apartment nearby. After we left the gas station the night she agreed to leave with me, we made a quick stop by her place, and she came out with everythin
g she owned in a small duffle bag.
Two days after arriving in a small town in Nevada, we found an apartment and moved in. Since it probably won’t be a permanent home, we only moved in the basic necessities, and put the rest of my stuff in a storage locker.
“Okay. Time to start planning,” I say, looking through the dark tinted window. “Do you recognize any of these people?”
We spend the rest of the night checking up on some of the places her and her mom used to live, looking for not only her mom, but some of the boyfriends she had too. Turns out Jayden’s childhood could rival my own, and together we’re ready to serve justice to those who wouldn’t otherwise receive any punishment for their actions.
It’s a new adventure with a new list of names, and on top of the criminals we’re going after, we have to worry about the cops who may soon be coming after us. But I wouldn’t change a thing, because for once in my life, I’m content. I have someone who likes me despite my darkness, and maybe even because of it. We fuck like it’s the last time we’ll ever do it, and we live like it’s our final day on earth. We’re happy, and fuck anyone who wants to judge us.
The End
Readers,
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This wasn’t typical for me. It’s a bit darker than anything I’ve written before, and while I know it’s probably not as dark as some other books some of you may have read, it also may have been too dark for others. It definitely wasn’t a fluffy, sappy, romance book, but man did I love being in Donovan’s head. This book changed so much during the writing process. You have no idea how many different scenarios I had, and if you’re upset with the ending, then you don’t want to know what my original plan was. Muhahaha! Just kidding. But not really. I always planned on this being a standalone, but I truly fell in love with Jayden, and her and Donovan’s short time together. While writing the epilogue, I felt they needed their own story, and they’ll get it. It may not be the next thing I write, because I have some phenomenal plans for my next project, but don’t worry, darkness will once again take over. Muah! Love you all. Thank you again for your support!
TO MY HUSBAND—you are my everything. I couldn’t imagine doing this without you and all of the help you offer. I love you and can’t thank you enough for everything you do for me. Your support, feedback, opinions, and patience mean more than you know.
Kizzy, Tonya, Christina, Ann, Kristina, Sharon, and Gemma. Thank you so, so much! You all were amazing beta readers, and hearing your feedback not only made my day, but helped the story. I appreciate you all!
Wander and Andrey—I love working with you two! Wander, your photos are amazing, and I’m honored to have this one of Marshall on this cover. It’s truly perfect. Andrey, thank you for everything! I appreciate you taking the time to communicate with me, and making sure everything ran so smoothly. I look forward to working with you both for a long time to come.
Robin, once again you’ve worked your magic and took my random ramblings and turned them into a phenomenal cover. I swear, they just keep getting better and better. I appreciate you so very much!
Christine, I absolutely love working with you. I always know the interior will be fabulous, and you’re so easy to work with. Thank you for always making time for me.
To all of the bloggers who share my covers, teasers, and links—thank you! To each one of you who participates in my tours and blitzes, I appreciate the time you put into it. I can never thank you guys enough.
To Christine and Kelley from The Hype PR—I’m so happy to work with you ladies this time around. Thank you for all the work you put into my blitz, boost, and tour.
Last but not least, my readers. Gah! There will never be enough words to explain how much you all mean to me. So many of you have read every single book I’ve put out, even though the genres are different. You guys support and promote me without me having to beg and I couldn’t be happier to know that you do that because you enjoy my work. Thank you for everything! I love you all.
The Secrests We Keep
War
Resurrecting Phoenix
Think Again
The Escort Series
Living in Sin (Escort 1)
Unforgiveable Sin (Escort 2)
Sins & Mistrust (Escort 3)
The Escort Box Set
ISABEL LUCERO IS a multi-genre bestselling author, giving you books for every mood.
She was born in a small town in New Mexico and was lucky enough to escape and travel the world thanks to her husband’s career in the Air Force. She’s been married for twelve years to the love of her life and Jr. High School sweetheart. Together they have two of the best and most beautiful kids in the world, as well as two dogs that keep them all entertained.
She currently lives overseas and is constantly coming up with new book ideas, so keep an eye open for new stories coming your way. Isabel loves connecting with her readers and fans of books in general. You can find her on her personal website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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