Love Me in the Dark

KREW

I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to smash every single piece of furniture in sight right now. I paced back and forth. My mind was still whirling. I was just so furious, hurt, enraged that River left like as easy as that—she didn’t care. What she said might be right after all. Why would she care anyway? It was me who concocted and considered the idea of making her bait to that motherfucker.

My phone rang. It was Conner.

“Where is she?” My greeting was a bark.

“She went thermonuclear. I swear your woman is scary when she’s pissed.” He laughed, outraged, and admired her at the same time. River never ceased to amaze me. I knew she could be scarier when she wanted to. I was a fucking bulldozer, but she’d never been intimidated by me.

“Where is she now?” My voice was thick when I asked again. Calling River my woman made me feel proud, but I knew the reality— she left me.

“I sent her to her apartment. I’m still waiting here down for your heads up.”

“Is she okay?” It took considerable self-control not to go to her apartment and ask for forgiveness so that we could have make-up sex, but I knew River. The way she just left me, she would make everything extraordinarily fucking difficult for me.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, boss. She’s spitting fire, but physically, she’s okay. For someone who had been in a long-term relationship, I would advise you to give her some space.”

“She’s still terrified.” My voice hardened. “You didn’t see her curling on the fucking floor. I let it happen.”

“She would realize that what you did was for her own good. If it makes you feel any better, she cares a lot about you. I know a woman when becomes enraged, turns into a firestorm because she cares.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, rubbed my temples as I tried to let myself believe that River cared about me. On the other hand, maybe Conner was right. She was still mad at me. “Just stay down for a while, then you can go.” There were a lot of questions I wanted to ask, but I let it go for now.

“Got it, boss.”

I disconnected the call and slumped myself to the couch where we fucked each other. This place reminded me of her. In every corner of this penthouse, she was everywhere, and it was driving me insane.

I knew myself.

I had known it in my bone that I was stupidly, madly, and tragically in love with her.

***

“Hello? Who’s there?” A voice of a man interrupted me from starting a fire.

I turned around. It was an old man in his fifties or so. “Yeah?” When he got closer, I realized I knew him from years ago. “Wait. Sheriff Ward? Is that you?”

He stopped a meter away from me, trying to remember me, I guessed. “Retired, son. Selik kid?”

like eight years?” He was one of those people who believed in me. He also testified

doing here in the middle of the forest.” His

sat on the old log. “It’s kinda a long story.” I had been here for two days. Kai and Krys didn’t know where I went,

had been camping here all by myself. Only the darkness of the forest full of wonder, insects, and

have all

happened to me, I developed this fear of the rain and darkness, and she knew it. I realized I couldn’t be with someone if I would pee in my pants when it rained or during bad weather. Considering New York had that season, it would be difficult for us

how long have you been camping here?” He looked around.

tent and created a pit fire on my

looked surprised. “It was

the sun started to set, but I had to face my fear. When the rain started tapping against the roof of my tent, I almost peed in my pants. I only had a chargeable lamp inside while it was thundering, the lightning struck the sky, and the rain was pouring so hard. I kept telling myself about what she told me that it couldn’t hurt me. It was just mother earth nurturing the ground, but I was still sweating,

proud of you,

smiled despite my heart was still hurting. I, myself was proud. I passed

woman. What

She left me.” I looked down,

always do the tricks. Show her how determined and sincere you are to

As soon as I’m outta

***

fuck have you been? Lake would never crack, and the only

on the couch. When my gaze landed on Krys, walking in, I knew something huge happened while I was away for nearly two

missed her, but I

the burning gaze my brother had been shooting

not amused. He looked like he could break my head in a snap. “You forget that you left

I? What is the fuss? I thought you would

hide for thirteen days, Krew?” It was Krys who asked. “And I have something for you.” Her smile was pure wicked, waggling her brows as if it would pique

“What is it?”

gonna buy me a brand

did you become

eyes. “It’s called a gift, brother. Jeez. I promise you’re gonna like

Kai. When I didn’t say a thing,

working on it, and I don’t wanna fuck up for the second time. Cut

working for you? Running away isn’t working on it, you

back to that

Why in the hell would you torture yourself going back there on your own?” Krys was so shocked, her eyes enormous. She knew how that place changed my whole

the fuck, Krew? Have you lost your mind? Why did you have to go back to that terrible place?” It was Kai. He could be overprotective, but he’d been my anchor

move on. I have to face my fear. I

knew?” Krys