64. As long as you're mine

ERICA

“I’d die instead of being used as a weapon by you to hurt my family. I will do anything to not let you hurt them, they don’t deserve it.”

“And I deserve this?” He asked, his eyes a pair of burning inferno. His words cutting me, slice by slice as he said, “Do I deserve to have every person I care about be taken away from me? Do I deserve to be remain in this cold world all alone despite how fucking much I try to protect everyone around me, but in the end they will just leave me? That’s what I deserve?”

Silence reigned between us before I answered through thick tears crowding my throat, “No. No one deserves that.” I fisted my hands by my side unless I reach for him. “But I can’t give you what you need at the expense of my family, at the expense of my sister’s happiness.”

“It won’t come to it.” I looked up at him. He took my hand in his, his touch gentle as his thumb caressed the back of my hand. “I am done.” My heart squeezed in pain even though it was the same sentiment going th