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But this means the world to me. They went through all this trouble to give me something I didn’t know I needed. Closure, justice, revenge? I’m not sure, but there’s this feeling inside me that feels almost at peace.

That asshole put me through so much physical pain and mental trauma that he changed the way I thought about myself, took things that he had no right to, manipulated the very thing he told me I was a freak for.

Yes, he went to jail. But it wasn’t enough. He was only sentenced to five years. I did everything in my power not to think about what it meant for me when he got out.

Would he come back to make me pay for putting him behind bars? Beat me, or worse? He’s the main reason I bought a gun in the first place.

Now to know that he’s no longer an issue, that he’s not only dead, but the three men who have proven to me what love and devotion look like no matter how different it might be for other people, were the ones to do it? They gave me that peace, helped settle the demons within me and that means so much more than they could ever comprehend.

“You killed him?” I whisper with a sniff, rubbing at my nose as tears stain my cheeks. “You killed him for me?” Because there’s no way he could have survived with all that blood loss, right?

“We would do anything for you, Bunny,” Maverick cradles my face in his large, warm hands. “No life is off limits, including our own.”

A ball of emotion lodges in my throat. I’ve never had someone care about me enough to put me first, let alone kill for me. Not that I ever expected anyone to do that.

But here we are, these three wild, magnificently unhinged men who found my demon and put an end to him just for me.

“Thank you,” I whisper, wiping at my eyes. “I can’t believe you actually killed him. How? When?”

“Weeeell,” Shepherd draws out, wincing a little. “He’s not dead. Well, not yet anyway. Give it another half hour, though, and he will be.”

My brows pull together. “He’s not? How is he still alive? Wouldn’t he have bled out by now?”

“We’re making sure he stays alive,” Maverick reassures.

“Why the fuck would you do that?” Anger bubbles inside me. “That motherfucker should die!” I’m breathing heavily, my body shaking. One second I was filled with relief to finally have him gone, and now that sense of peace has all been ripped away.

“Breathe, Little Bunny. He will be. I can promise you that,” Saint says, stepping up to wrap his arm around my waist, pulling me to his body and away from his brother. “The reason he’s not dead yet is because we wanted to see if there’s anything you’d like to do or say before he dies.”

“Or, if you want, you can kill the fucker yourself,” Shepherd offers. “As much as I was looking forward to getting my hands bloody, I’d gladly give you the honors. If anyone deserves to end his life, it’s you.”

“Me?” My eyes widen. “Wait. Where is he?”

“Ronny-boy is in there.” Shepherd hikes a thumb over his shoulder. “We went to pick him up last night and brought him here.”

So that’s where they disappeared to. And now he’s here. On the property.

My heart starts to race as my eyes lock on the barn, a million different thoughts dancing around inside my head.

I bite my lower lip, the anger slowly leaving me as I think over their words.

Do I want to be the one to kill him, the one to end his life and take his last breath?

I want to say yes, but that’s not who I am. I’d kill to defend myself, something I had to learn. I have every right to do so if my life and safety are at risk.

Yes, I want the man who hurt me the most to pay for what he did. Does that mean I want him to die? Honestly, yes. I don’t see why a monster like him should be allowed to continue to live.

He beat me. Raped me. Physically and emotionally abused me for years and then made it seem like I wanted it, like I asked for it. All because of the kind of things I fantasized about, and the kinks I had.

My kink wasn’t to be abused, to be taken advantage of against my will, or to have my choices over my own body and life stripped from me.

“What do you say, beautiful? It’s your choice,” Maverick says, pulling my attention to him.

My choice. It’s my choice. My fucking choice.

His words fill me with a surge of pride and self-confidence I’ve never had much of.

“I don’t want to kill him,” I tell Maverick. “That’s not something I think I can do.”