Chapter 19

• Aaron was holding the gun with both hands. As soon as he saw me, he lowered the gun, grabbed my arm, and pulled me inside. The door slammed shut. With his free hand, he pulled my shoulders up against him. I wrapped my arms around his body. He was dressed only in jeans, and I inhaled the scent of warm skin, the scent of cologne. I stood, closing my eyes and resting my face on his chest. I clasped my hands tightly, resisting his attempts to push me away, maintaining my grip despite his efforts to push me away, enduring his screams, enduring his curses, enduring him... I didn't release my grip. Instead, he was pushing me back, pushing me backwards, as if he wanted to push me against a wall. Yielding to his will, I took two tiny steps back until I was leaning against someone... Hands cupped me and I realized it was Owen. I heard him sigh and bury his face in my hair, feeling his warm breath. I lifted my eyes to Aaron.
• "I love you".
• Owen, behind me, stopped breathing for a few seconds; his chest stopped rising and my hair stopped brushing against his breath. I could feel his pain. Let it go; it's a little payback.