Read Online Give Me Love by Zoey Derrick - Free Book Online

pulls his hand away from her cheek and rubs it along his thigh, contemplating something. Then he stands up. “Or maybe I wasn’t ready to face it.” His voice drops, becoming heavy with emotion. He runs his hand through his inky black hair. Vivienne watches him intently, trying to decipher his mood. “I’m pretty sure I still don’t understand it,” he says, running his hand over his face.  
    “Mikah,” she says looking up at him. He’s standing a few feet in front of the couch, looking toward the door Red just left through. “I’m pretty sure that neither one of us had a choice in all of this. Maybe that’s why I’m having an easier time, but the bottom line is that we are who we are.” She takes a deep breath. “It doesn’t mean it has to change who we are. Besides...” She stands up and comes to stand in front of him. He looks down at her and their eyes meet. “I wouldn’t change it for anything.”  
    Her arms snake around his waist and she pulls herself close to him, still looking into his eyes.  
    “I’m scared,” he breathes.  
    “Of what?”
    “Anything happening to you.” His eyes glass over. “I nearly lost you once, and I will never forget what that felt like. I will do anything and everything I can to never feel that kind of pain again.” He thinks but doesn’t say that he’s pretty sure the pain would be worse today than it was a month ago.  
    Vivienne squeezes him tighter and he wraps his arms around her. She’s at a loss for words, unsure how to comfort him. It’s unclear what the future holds for anyone, she just wants to enjoy this moment, right here right now.

TWENTY
    Around nine the next morning, Red and Andrew come into the condo, and Mikah knows where they’re headed. He half expected Red to come for them last night, but he and Vivienne had been left alone to just be with one another for the evening.
    “Elizabeth wishes to see us all,” Red says as he comes to stand in the dining room.  
    Vivienne and Mikah, who had just finished cleaning up from breakfast, stop what they’re doing and both nod. The four of them head for the hallway that leads to the condo’s foyer and there, at the end of the hallway, is a portal straight into Elysium.  
    “No smoke and mirrors this time?” Mikah teases Red.  
    “No, there’s no need. Portals can be opened anywhere.”
    “Huh,” Mikah huffs as they all step through, back into Elysium.  
    Nothing has changed in the white room since Saturday night except that Elizabeth, Zirah, Seraphina, Connor and Celeste are all already in the room.  
    When they come in Elizabeth gestures toward the couch, indicating that Mikah and Vivienne should take a seat. “Listen, I know a lot has transpired over the last couple of days, however, we now know that a trap was laid out for you by Riley. He killed your mother in an attempt to bring you to the funeral home.”
    Mikah’s heart rate rises quickly, and Vivienne can feel the tension in his embrace. She looks to him, hoping to comfort him.  
    “Riley went to great lengths not only to kill Rebecca, but also in his attempt at laying a trap for Vivienne. He’s yet to discover that Vivienne is with anyone. At least from what we can tell. Riley figured that if Rebecca was dead, Vivienne would run straight to the rehab center and she would go alone, therefore giving him the opportunity to complete his task.”
    “Which is what exactly?” Mikah asks the question everyone is thinking.  
    “At this point, from what information we’ve received, we believe he intended to kidnap her and take her back to the devil.”  
    “So what are we supposed to do about him?” Mikah asks. “Can we call the cops and have—”  
    The look on Elizabeth’s face says it all: The police can’t stop Riley.  
    “ We need to...” Mikah doesn’t finish the sentence. He doesn’t have to. His heart beats even faster.  
    “Yes, this is a matter for the guardians to handle.”
    Vivienne is overcome with