“
She’s like my own sunrise. Beautiful. Perfect. She fills a part of me that’s been empty and dark for as long as I can remember.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
It seems she has no idea how much I’m obsessed with her. Not just with her looks, but her heart, her fucking soul.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Are you going to be my forever, Freckles?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
My soul is shattered and broken, and I lose all the pieces, unable to glue it back together.
Look at me now, my little princess. Daddy's gone, and he's
never coming back." - Kade Mitchell
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Because I love you. I’ve been in love with you for ages – it’s been all I’ve thought about. And I keep falling more in love with you every single fucking day.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Your cum is leaking out of me,” she randomly tells me as she takes a picture of our boarding passes. The group of grannies nearby give us a horrifying look. “No, I’m serious. When I sneezed? Boom.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
She’s like my own sunrise. Beautiful. Perfect. She fills a part of me that’s been empty and dark for as long as I can remember. Maybe I am falling in love with her. Should I tell her? Would that scare her?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
We have an emergency announcement. Reports say that Tobias Mitchell has escaped his institution this afternoon and is currently at large. The murderer and psychopath was given a life sentence over twenty years ago.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I can’t wait to see Stacey beat the shit out of Cassie.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Sit next to me in the car ride home.” She hums. “Why?” “So I can hold your hand.” I shrug and press my mouth to hers. “Or your thigh. Whichever is more accessible.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I think if I ever took my last breaths outside, I’d like to be able to see the moon.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You’re doing so good, Freckles,” I say, kissing below her ear as I thrust harder. My voice is shaky, but I keep praising her. “Taking it so fucking well.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Make them go away, Freckles.” “Make what go away?” I manage to ask. “The voices.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Kade: Run and hide. Unless you want everyone to witness me fucking you? Having an audience won’t stop me – I’ll take you in front of the entire party.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I choose who I love, and I choose you”.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
He’s the son of Tobias Mitchell. He doesn’t need help.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Let’s assume Kade does get his hands on me,” he says as he follows me with our bags. “Would you help him, Stacey?” I throw my head back and laugh. “He’s the son of Tobias Mitchell. He doesn’t need help.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
She cried when she opened the little dancer charm for her bracelet and held my hand while we got matching tattoos – a design I’d worked on for weeks. Our initials intertwined and distorted to make them unrecognisable, with the words so small and vine-like, not even Stacey knows that they say “I choose who I love, and I choose you”.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
It’s over. It’s been over for two years. He’s wrong. If it was over, then what the hell has this entire trip been? The sex. The kiss. The need to hold me. We aren’t done.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
He’s wrong. If it was over, then what the hell has this entire trip been? The sex. The kiss. The need to hold me. We aren’t done. Kade
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Stacey doesn’t know what she means to me, and that’s fine. She’s safer not knowing and thinking I hate her – that I used her. That I’ll never forgive her.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I n-never stopped loving you.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Is this what you need?” I ask softly. “You need the control?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I couldn’t even tell Kade the truth,” I cry. “I said I fell down the studio stairs. I lied to him too. I always lie. Always.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
My therapist said to talk – always talk. Staying silent and in your head just invites the bad thoughts inside, with no one to keep you on the right path.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
And I love seeing men run around with guns.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I devour her mouth, tasting her, feeling her under my fingertips as I explore every inch of her body. I’ll never get used to this. Her. “Mine,” I say against her mouth. No one else’s.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Barry said he can hide me – get me a new identity and a new life. I could come to America.” He’s silent, and then he says, “You’re going to annoy me by visiting every day, aren’t you?” “If I take him up on his offer, then yes.” “I’d rather spend a year back down in confinement.” I smile at his joking tone. “I think we’re becoming friends, Tobias.” He lets out a disbelieving laugh and hangs up on me.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
It’s like a mixture of love and not being able to breathe unless she’s around – thoughts that run wild wondering what she’s doing, where she is, if she’s thinking of me. It’s the butterflies that flutter like maniacs when I know I’m going to see her soon.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Can we try again?” “Try what again?” I ask. “For a baby?” She turns to face me, and even though it’s dark in my room, the moon shines on her face, and I can see her undeniable beauty. “Yeah. Maybe not right away, but in like… a year? Six months? We could properly prepare, and I’ll even stay on the couch the full nine months. I promise… I promise I won’t lose our baby again.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Hey, Freckles.” I bite my lip and screw my face up as my ribs burn, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry for not knowing what you went through or giving you a chance to explain what happened. I should have heard you out. I should have stayed. But you need to listen.” I wince and pull the phone away, so she can’t hear my groan of pain. “They know who you are, and what we were. They’re going to come for you. Please. Please, baby, you need to run. Run, and don’t you dare turn back. Get away from all of them. You… you hear m-me?” My eyes close, and my phone slides out of my hand, but I quickly grab it. “Please hide, please.” My vision goes dark, and the tremble in my bones stops. “I n-never stopped loving you.” My heart is fucking sore, but I need to get this last part out. I know I’m dying. But the only thing I’m worried about is her getting the fuck away from those evil pricks. “I will… will always lo-love you, Freckles. Go, live your life and be free. Meet someone who can tr-treat you ri-ight. For-for-forget me.” I can’t hear anything, not even my heartbeat. “Pl-please for… forgive me. B-Be safe and ha-ha-happy. I love you. I…” The phone slides again, and I have no energy left to finish my sentence, but as long as she knows I loved her, that she meant the world to me, that she is fucking special and deserves everything that makes her happy – then I’ve said all I need to. A hand touches my face, but I can’t see through the blood in my eyes from the gaping wound in my head. Stacey? Is that you? Mum? But it’s Bernie’s voice in my ear. Faint, but enough that I can make out what she’s saying. “Oh, silly me. Did I forget to mention Stacey fled the country? New phone. ID. Everything. You’ll never find her, but guess what? I will.” She wipes my eyes with a cloth, and I can just make out a medic hovering over me. Archie lowers himself beside me as I try to drag air into my punctured lungs. “I did some digging and was able to lift some messages between you both – and her nickname. Freckles?” He laughs, and blood drops from my mouth as I attempt to move, to get up and snap his neck. “I’ll carve each freckle out of her skin.” “I’ll k-kill y-you.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
What are you going to do when I go to Hawaii with my family in January?” “Burn your passport before you can leave.” She curls her fingers into my waistband and whispers, “I keep it in the drawer beside my bed. You’d need to sneak into my room and get it.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
She sold me to a married couple for two days then had to clean the mess up because I killed them both. I don’t remember skinning them alive, but apparently I did the wife first while the husband watched.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You know,” I start, swallowing down my building panic, the tightening feeling in my chest gripping my fucking heart like a vice, “you need to be my girlfriend now. You’re all I can think about.”
Relief fills me as she blushes and giggles. “And that means I need to be your girlfriend?”
“Yep.” I take her face and kiss her, stroking my thumbs on her freckled cheeks. “Seems boyfriend-ish to think of someone as much as I think of you.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I don’t stop the car until I reach the police station.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You cheated on me a month after we lost our daughter. Not with just anyone either. You screwed Jason. My big brother. No matter how many times we fuck, I will never ever fucking forgive you.” And then I walk out and slam the door.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
The sheets are completely saturated with blood, a haunting sign that we’ve lost our daughter.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I got my full licence a few months ago, after failing the test three times. I’m still not sure how I passed, but here we are.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You won’t be able to kill him,” I say, tutting. “You only hit women.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
We were in Edinburgh and a guy opened the door for her while I was at the ATM, and I imagined his body in a morgue and me behind bars.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Get on your hands and knees,” he says, gesturing to the spiral staircase. “And crawl up them.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Georgina? Really? She’s not ninety.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I take her face in my hands, stroking hair behind her ears. “Because I love you. I’ve been in love with you for ages – it’s been all I’ve thought about. And I keep falling more in love with you every single fucking day.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
It’s like a mixture of love and not being able to breathe unless she’s around – thoughts that run wild wondering what she’s doing, where she is, if she’s thinking of me. It’s the butterflies that flutter like maniacs when I know I’m going to see her soon. The Stacey Rhodes Effect.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
A man of few words, yet they’re enough to make my pussy throb.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You cheated on me a month after we lost our daughter. Not with just anyone either. You screwed Jason. My big brother. No matter how many times we fuck, I will never ever fucking forgive you.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You look beautiful again. Good touch on hiding the redness on your cheek. I didn’t think I hit you that hard.” I glare at him. “I hope Bernadette shoots me in the head.” “Strange thing to hope for, but okay. Ready?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
What are you going to do when I go to Hawaii with my family in January?” “Burn your passport before you can leave.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Look at me now, my little princess. Daddy’s gone, and he’s never coming back.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
It’s only been half a year, but it feels like longer. You’re everything to me, Stacey. Everything. I think about you constantly, and I get excited when it’s time to see you. I’ve never been attracted to someone before; did you know that? Never. Not once did I come across someone I found attractive. I thought I was broken, that my emotions were limited, but I just hadn’t met you yet.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
We have an emergency announcement. Reports say that Tobias Mitchell has escaped his institution this afternoon and is currently at large. The murderer and psychopath was given a life sentence over twenty years ago.
I would like to stress to everyone that this individual is extremely dangerous and may not be in touch with reality.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I think if I ever took my last breaths outside, I’d like to be able to see the moon.” As grim as that statement is, she lets out a peaceful sigh. “It’s beautiful.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
she can have every fractured shard of my heart, if only she knows how to fix it back together
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Are you going to be my forever, Freckles?” What is forever if it’s not with him?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
For the next two years, I die a little more each day, until the version of Kade Mitchell I want to be turns into a ghost. My soul is shattered and broken, and I lose all the pieces, unable to glue it back together.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Maybe if I die, I'll reincarnate into a dog. Stacey likes dogs. She'll cuddle me. I like her cuddles. Or maybe I can haunt her - make sure she doesn't meet anyone else.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
We need to go to a Taylor Swift concert," Base says. "Reckon she'd take me on stage.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
You cheated on me a month after we lost our daughter. Not with just anyone either. You screwed Jason. My big brother. No matter how many times we fuck, I will never ever fucking forgive you.” And
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I can’t calm my somehow beating heart as it races in my crippled chest.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (Edge of Darkness))
“
it’s alright to grieve a loss, as long as you don’t lose yourself in the process.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Stacey’s scream wakes me with a start the next morning. It’s a strangled string of screams that will haunt me for the rest of”
“She pushes the duvet off us, and my heart drops when I see my worst nightmare.
My hand trembles as I completely yank away the duvet while Stacey grabs my arm, screaming even louder and burying her head into the crook of my neck.
I don’t breathe. I don’t say a word, even as Mum and Ewan burst through my bedroom door.
I see the princess dress vanishing, the drawer full of outfits set alight, the high-pitched giggles, the dream of having a miniature version of the woman I love in our own house burned to the ground.
The sheets are completely saturated with blood, a haunting sign that we’ve lost our daughter.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Because I love you. I’ve been in love with you for ages–it’s been all I’ve thought about. And I keep falling more in love with you every single fucking day.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Pure lust and adrenaline inject into my veins as I lie beneath the devil, waiting for him to consume me until I’m no longer able to breathe, no longer capable of stringing words together. I wait for him to kiss my throat, nip the sensitive flesh with his teeth and fuck me into oblivion.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Let’s assume Kade does get his hands on me,” he says as he follows me with our bags. “Would you help him, Stacey?”
I throw my head back and laugh. “He’s the son of Tobias Mitchell. He doesn’t need help.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
don’t think it’s even a case of being in love with her anymore. Is there an emotion that’s stronger than love? If not, I’m creating one.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them. Save him. Save her. Save them.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Can I love her and still be obsessed with her? Because I am.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
What is forever if it’s not with him?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I’m far too terrified for Kade’s safety to think about my own. Or what waits for me at home. I’ll deal with Chris later. My mind is on fire with traumatising thoughts of what could be happening to Kade right now.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
The lights dim, and he refills my water. “Mr Mitchell has been in a lot of situations where his life has been at risk. Trust me when I say this is minor. He’s too valuable to be killed. Many have tried and failed. He’s good at what he does because of what he’s gone through.” He gives me a tight smile and gestures to the cockpit. “I’ll be right through there if you need anything. Get some rest. Miss— Stacey.” I’m not sure how much time passes; the music playing from the speakers is all I have to focus on. “When the party’s over” by Billie Eilish is on, and my heart sinks with every lyric. Memories rush through me. Me inverted on the hoop; Kade kissing me upside down while this song plays. He often used to interrupt my routine to kiss or touch me. Other times he’d sit to the side and watch me, as if he was watching me dance for the first time. I knew that version of Kade was in love with me. I could see it in his eyes. I’m not sure I’ll ever see that side of him again.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I once drew what I assumed our daughter would look like – my most prized possession.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
and if I had to give up everything in the world for this, I would. I’d give it all up for Stacey.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Whoever it is, I’m going to kill him.” Understatement – I’m going to rip him limb for limb and set the cunt on fire.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I love you, Freckles,” I tell her. She sniffs. “I love you too. So, so much.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Please believe me when I say that Mr Mitchell always goes above and beyond to protect you, and I will do the same.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Kade set up a sort of safety net for you and his family. Each one of you got a lump sum – to be given if he passes away. This is me honouring that deal while he’s still alive.” I glance at the paperwork, then my eyes lift to him. “Is this a joke?” “Nope.” “Kade gave me eighty-six million pounds?” “Yep,” he replies. “Please sign it so we can move along. I’ve got loads of stuff to go through.” It takes me an hour to sign it, and Barry is close to losing his patience. A couple of days later, Eva is cleared to fly. And my next chapter starts.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Frowning, I try to remain calm. My breaths come out in short bursts as the next clip starts. A camera is sitting in the corner of Jason’s room, where three guys and Stacey’s stepbrother make the bed and carry a barely conscious Jason in, sitting him against the wall opposite the bed. He’s wearing the top he borrowed from me. This is the same night. One guy slaps his face, waking him, but his spit drips from his mouth, his eyes rolling. The fuck? At that point, Jason didn’t do drugs. He hated them – hated smoking too. Fuck, he barely drank. Seeing my big brother in this state makes me physically ill.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
My body feels exhausted from watching all of this and the truth it holds, so I don’t notice anyone has approached me until someone stabs something into my arm. My brain goes cold just as the footage skips one last time – to Stacey standing on the Erskine Bridge with tears pouring down her face, wearing what she had on when I told her to get the fuck out of my life. My brother is trying to get her down. Stacey was suicidal for something that wasn’t her fault. No.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
my wheel hits the kerb, my body jolts and I’m swerving the entire car to the side before it starts rolling. Each time it hits the ground, glass shatters, my head bouncing off the frame, and my airbag explodes to protect me. I must flip about six times before colliding with a tree, and I’m not sure if I pass out, or if time just stops, but I’m upside down, blood rushing to my head, ears ringing painfully. I choke, groaning at the rush of adrenaline shoving aside the pain. I unclip my belt, grab my phone and crawl out of the broken window. Palms cutting on the glass, I push to stand. My left arm is fucked – the bone is poking through my skin, and I’m limping as I hold my ribs. Blood is pissing down my face from my head, but I force my feet to keep moving. I need to get to her. I need Stacey.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Archie looks down at me. “If you thought we had fun before, you’re in for a ride from now on.” Archie chuckles as my eyes keep falling shut. “Your friend tried to intervene – did you know that? It backfired. We have Sebastian Prince.” What?
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
The father I always wanted, needed and will keep forever, regardless of my position with his son. However, I’ll never hear the end of missing a visit. I’ll probably have it carved into my tombstone.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
The feel of Stacey cuddled into my side. Her breath on my skin with each fill of her perfect little lungs. Her hand splayed on my chest.
She’s alive. She’s real. She’s alive.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
keep my hood up and my eyes down so people don’t stare at me when I walk past them. I started doing that after a Russian lady asked me to cover up so I’d stop scaring her child. She’s dead now. My rage got the better of me and I snuck out of my hotel
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I’d give it all up for Stacey.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
I hate people crying – it makes me feel awkward.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Feelings suck sometimes. They’re my best friends
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))
“
Do not speak about any woman that way. Ever.
”
”
Leigh Rivers (Voracious (The Edge of Darkness, #2))