𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✔️

♡ Chapter 25 ♡

July 25th.

~ Nic POV ~

I've never been religious. I've never truly considered the concepts of Heaven and Hell. I've thought about them, for a few moments, but never any deep thoughts.

But as I lay next to Celeste, I get a glimpse of Heaven.

She's still sleeping. On her left side, like always. Her hands are under her pillows, and only half of her face is visible, with the other half sinking into the white pillow.

The sun shines in through the window. And although there's an entire city out there, it feels as if it's just her and I in the entire world. 

The sun gives her toffee-colored skin a glow. Her silky black hair falls behind her on the pillow. The soft sound of her breathing feels like a custom-made sound for me, that I could listen to forever.

She has been through a lot. Losing your entire family would shatter most people. But, here she is in front of me.

She's strong. Resilient. Takes my breath away.

I've never wanted to fall in love, because I never wanted to have a weakness. My list of enemies could reach the furthest away galaxy. And I deserve every single one of them.

But with Celeste, I can see it. Right before my eyes. But not only can I see it, but I can fucking feel it. I can see myself falling so in love with her, that nothing else in the world matters besides her. I can see myself ending the life of anybody that did so much as to even look at her wrong. I can see myself falling in love with every part of her, every version of her,  and even just thinking about it makes the cavity of ice in my chest warm. 

I've had men look me directly in my eyes as they begged me not to end their lives. They screamed about their children. How their 3 three old daughters would grow up without a parent.

And I pulled the trigger without blinking.

I deserve every possible punishment on Earth for the things I've done. If one day I got killed for a hit I had done before, I'd understand. I did do it for no reason, after all.

But now? As I look at the woman in front of me, my stone heart tugs. I feel weak. Vulnerable.

I feel as if I have a reason now. The thought of killing 50 people to save just her doesn't even require a second to think. I'd do it in a heartbeat. 

I know Celeste. And I mean, truly know her. I know everything she likes, and everything she dislikes. I know at exactly what time each day she likes to eat her meals. I know which shirts of hers are her favorites. And every single thing I learn about her, I'll never forget. I never could.

I brush my knuckle against her soft cheek. 

I can still feel her from last night. I feel her lips against mine, her hands against my body, and I can even still feel her moaning my name in my mouth.

And the thought of no longer having this after this trip makes me feel something I've never felt before.

Heartbreak.

In this world, to survive, all of your plans have to be perfect. Every move you make, has to be perfect. Your surroundings have to be perfect.

But with a weakness?

You can never be perfect with a weakness.

Just the thought of somebody touching her makes me see red. And I know that it's selfish. She's not my girlfriend. She's a grown woman, who is fully capable of making her own decisions.