Dark Lies (House of Sin 2)

“Isabella,” she says.

“Isabella.” I look down at the sweet little cheeks that I can’t wait to cuddle. “Perfect name for a perfect little girl.”

“She doesn’t have to be perfect,” Amelia says.

I look up at her, softly swaying Isabella to soothe her.

“No … but she is, just by existing,” I reply, which makes her smile.

But then the smile dissipates within seconds. “Will she be safe?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Safe from … the House.” She gulps, eyeing Isabella as though she will steal her out of my arms and run away with her if she has to, even though she’s still bloody and recovering from the birth. I guess this is what they mean when they talk about a mother’s love. The fierceness of it catches me off guard. Maybe because I never experienced it with my own mother.

“I won’t let you take her there,” she says.

“You don’t have to fear that,” I say, and I give Isabella back to Amelia. “She will always be yours.”

“What about Tobias? Will he come for her?”

I sit down beside her bed and grab her hand. I can’t believe she would ask this now even though she’s asked it before, during the pregnancy. I guess, now that the baby is actually here, it’s brought her a sense of urgency.

“No. The House remains his, no matter if she exists or not. She cannot ever take over since I relinquished control. His legacy isn’t threatened by her, if that’s what you fear,” I reply.

She nods a few times. “Okay, good. Because I’d rather die than have that happen.”

I lower my eyes and look at her from underneath my lashes. “As will I.” I cup Amelia’s face. “There is no one in this world I love more than you … and her.” I peek down at Isabella. “And I will do everything that’s in my power to protect you.”

“Promise me you won’t ever make us go back. And promise me you won’t either,” she asks. “I don’t want it to be a part of our lives anymore. No more punishing sinners.”

I rest my forehead against hers. “You have my word.”

“And you’ll keep your word?”

I nod. “If you want, I will make a vow, right here, right now.” I get off the bed and grab her diary, which she’s been keeping ever since we came back. I flip to the page in the back and grab a knife from the kitchenette in the corner of this room. I don’t hesitate to cut into my thumb, blood oozing from the skin. Amelia merely stares at me as I press my thumb down onto the page to seal the deal.

“There. This is my vow to you. I will never, ever, let anyone take you or Isabella back to that house, not even me.”

She breathes a sigh of relief but then sits up straight again. “But you broke that other vow too. How do I know you won’t break this one?”

“I didn’t,” I say with a resolute voice, and I approach her while fumbling in my pocket. “And I won’t.”

“But you didn’t marry—”

Her lips stop moving as her eyes land on the very thing I’ve just pulled out of my coat. The little box I’ve been hiding for months contains a giant ring. I couldn’t find the right time to propose to her, so I waited, and waited, and waited … until now. Until I saw my child’s face and realized I must do everything in my power to make her mother happy.

Because that is what any child deserves.

And it is what she deserves too …

Love.

My love, which I’m more than willing to give.

So I go down on one knee right in front of this hospital bed and say, “Marry me.”

Her jaw drops, and for a second, I’m wondering if she’ll reject me. But then her eyes fill with tears, and she begins to nod rapidly. “Yes. Yes!”

I grab her hand and slide the ring onto her finger, finally committing to the one vow I made so long ago.

Without waiting for another second, I press my lips onto hers with full force, not giving a shit that some of the staff pacing by the hospital room gawk at us and giggle under their hands.

I want nothing more than to love her for the rest of my life. Because that is what she deserves.

So I whisper against her lips, “I told you I don’t break vows.”

The End.