(Lila's P.O.V)

"You don't remember." I scoffed. "That's the part you forgot." I clenched my jaw.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you didn't forget our kiss, but you forgot that you moaned Tatiana's name when we were making out." I spat out, unable to contain myself any longer.

"What?!"

The incredulity in Derek's tone made me snap open my eyes and look at him wearily. I was exhausted with my anger and my hiding.

I missed Derek's company.

I missed our easy talks and banter.

I was done being haunted by that bitch and letting her ruin my relationships. I could just ask Derek.

I was not one of those girls in the books starring misunderstood tropes.

"No. That's..." Derek stood up from the swing abruptly and approached me, lowering himself onto his haunches in front of me and staring me in the eyes with a pained expression.

His copper eyes filled with emotions and intensity like melting metal as they peered into mine.

"Tell me I didn't do that."

I shrugged. "You did." Pinpricks of betrayal still cast themselves into my heart but I was ready to hear the other side of the story.

Derek looked uncomfortable and remorseful. Seeing him in front of me on his knees, that expression of pleading on his face and stark vulnerability in his tight muscles did something to my insides.

He took a deep breath as if preparing for something, and then—

"I was frustrated that she'd sent threats to you and Rebecca. I hated that she wasn't letting go of me. I was angry because you never told me anything about yourself. I was hurt because Mom cheated on Dad and Desiree found out too." He took in a sharp breath. "I was sober during every moment with you, Kitkat. I loved the feel of your skin on mine, I cherished the way your lips moved in tandem. I got addicted to the way you felt in my arms, perfectly molding to me as if made for me."

He swallowed and stunned into silence, I let him continue.

"I never realized the mistake I made and I'm so fucking sorry, Kitkat. I said it because I was angry at Tatiana, not remembering her or linging for her. I'd never hurt you. Never. Not intentionally and never again unintentionally."

His words broke me. They really did.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered, his hands grabbing mine and rubbing the thumb over my knuckles soothingly, his eyes intently locked with mine.

The comforting nature, the fierce protectiveness......the naked truth. Derek's heartfelt words, all of them weaved themselves into my heart, becoming one with it.

I felt my lip quiver and unexpected words spilled from my lips. 

"I hate that you dated her. That you may have loved her at some point. I hate her with very fiber of my being. And I hate her brother even more. They're Monsters. And knowing you were associated with them?" I tried to make my voice strong as steel but a tremor sneaked in. "It made me want to hate you." I ended on a whimper.

Derek looked as pained as me.

"I didn't know, sweetheart. I'm sorry. I get it now, the hot and cold treatment." He gave me a rueful smile. "And fuck if I didn't deserve it." He squeezed my hands.

I scoffed. "You deserved worse."

"You can dish out all your anger on me for the rest of our lives."

My breath hitched and I bit my lip, he exhaled. 

"Forgive me?"

I shifted on the swing and an owl hooted in the distance. "I don't know."

Derek brought my hands up and his lips feathered over my knuckles making my heart race in my chest. His whisky eyes in the night locked on me as he spoke, "It was a mistake and I'm ready to fix it, Kitkat. I'm ready to hear you out whenever."

A guy like him acknowledging his mistake even though it wasn't all his fault and asking for forgiveness.....

Fuck, he's making me fall harder.

Incredulously, I asked. "How can you be so patient?"

"Because I want to know you." His simply replied.

"I don't tell you anything though." I lowered my eyes.

"Yeah, you do." He firmly spoke. "Sure, I get angry and frustrated sometimes. You're one hard nut to crack and you never give me leeway."

I snatched my hands from his, sniffling and folding my arms only to hear him chuckle in amusement.

"But it's hard to stay mad at you and I always give in. Pestering you is my favorite thing ever." A teasing thread tied into his words but I brushed it away with a roll of my eyes.

"Why?"

Because I was curious and I doubted we'd get an opportunity to clear the air between us again.

His answer left me tongue-tied and blushing.

"Because I don't like it when your stormy eyes turn ash-grey. It makes me want to kill the demons in your nighmares. I don't like that you find yourself alone and shut yourself out. But most of all......"

He sucked in a sharp breath and stood up, my eyes following him as he towered above me with eyes soft and dimple peeking. 

"Most of all, I hate that I can't wrap my arms around you whether you're crying or laughing."

I've never really panicked.

But in that moment, my brain had melted and my chest ached. Butterflies in my sotmach were replaced by mammoths and elephants and a lump lodged itself into my throat as I licked my suddenly dry lips.

"Is that a confession?" 

Although I said it playfully, there wasn't a part of me that wasn't seriously awaiting the answer. It was second nature to use flirting and snark as a facade for both me and Derek so I was sure he sensed my intentions.

"Maybe." 

He moved away to plop down on the swing again and I let my eyes follow him, my hands tightening on the chains of my own swing.

Now, what do I do? This was leaning towrds a maybe-yes right? How do the girls in the books deal with confessions from their annoying neighbour turned friend that they had make-outs with?

No one?

A low rumble of laughter escaped Derek and when my eyes landed on his, wide and uncertain, he gave a soft smile.

"You don't have to panic, Kitkat." He smirked, his dimple winking at me. "I haven't asked you out yet."

"But you'd like to." The words fell from my lips before I could process them.

"But I'd like to." He agreed nonchalantly, soft hair falling onto his forehead as I choked on air.

And I think I internally-screamed.

Oh, my god, oh my god, oh my god, what do I do now? That's a confession, right? Right??

The crickets made pointless noise and my heart pounded so fast in my chest, I though it'd burst right out. My lungs constricted as if they couldn't draw in any oxygen and a giddy feeling swept me under.

"You're blushing."

"It's the heat." I retorted.

He rose an amused brow, "Sure."

I cleared my throat and looked away delibrately which made Derek's grin wider.

"Think it over."

I licked my lips.

Think what over? My answer? His confession? The fact that I think he likes me? But he didn't make it sure?

"I can see your mind is moving at the speed of light." His foot connected with mine. "Take it easy, Kitkat."

"I'm taking it easy."

Not.

Derek really must've been feeling good and confident because his eyes twinkled and he winked at me, "Next time we kiss, I'll make sure to moan your name."

"Who says we'll kiss again?" I narrowed my eyes, wondering how we could easily talk about a topic we were skirting around for so long.

Something had changed between us.

Instead of the awkwardness, there lay a comfortable but chemistry-charged tension twining around us.

"Who thought we'd kiss even once?"

I opened my mouth to reply but...

He was right. I never considered it happening unlike him.

He wolfishly grinned in triumph. "That's what I thought."

Derek continued when I didn't reply, "Now be it my words, my hands or my mouth...." Dark desire and a burning heat lit up his eyes and my stomach twisted with a similar heat. "I know I'm good at leaving you speechless."

He cocked his head to the side devilishly, leaning forward to catch my burning face as I willed my mouth to open and spew out anything that wasn't a moan or confession.

"Pretty sure my dick would leave you screaming though."

I half stumbled from the edge of the swing, hissing and turning a thousand shades of red, "Derek!"

He laughed and the joy on his face made my chest swell with an alien feeling. Maybe it was the rustling of the trees and the breeze of clear-cool sort that surrounded us this late at night but the mood was tense and yet not.

I liked seeing him happy.

Because I liked him.

There was no denying my feelings when they were glaringly obvious. I liked Derek Greyson enough to tell him my secrets.

Maybe soon enough I'd show him the ugly sides of me because I don't think he'll judge me.

How in the world is that possible?

I guess they said it right.

Bad boys have a heart of gold but my bad-boy upgraded it to diamond.

"We've come a long way, don't you think?" He glanced at me and then looked up at the sky, swinging steadily like children with no worries.

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. "Yup."

I momicked him and stared at the sky filled with stars, so beautiful and silent. The stars sparked like embers—whether dying or coming alive, I couldn't tell.

"Do you hate me?"

"Why the random question?"

"I'm curious."

I paused to stare at him and then shrugged, "I only found you to be an annoyance and a nuisance. I never hated you."

I watched in elation as Derek's lips crooked upwards. "Glad to hear that, Kitkat." Then he rose a brow and his copper eyes connected with mine, "Won't you look at the sky and say the view is stunning?"

I tilted my head and suspiciously narrowed my eyes. "Why?"

He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "I want to do that thing in books and movies."

"What thing?" My heart came to a halt as I realized what he must've been thinking of.

He exhaled as if finding it embarrasing to say. "You know, where you look at the sky, I look at you, you say the view is beautiful and I say it too."

"That rhymed." I mused.

"Lila." He groaned and a laugh bubbled out of me.

"That's too cheesy."

"But you read books with those scenes." He pointed out.

I waved him away, "That's because they're books. This is reality."

"Books are based on reality."

"I'm not a protagonist." I bit my lip.

He rose both brows. "I highly doubt that."

"Oh?"

"Yup. Won't you ask why?"

I sighed chidingly even though I was enjoying every second of whatever this was. "Why?"

"Because you're the average girl who got the badboy."

We both knew there was nothing average about me and nothing actually bad-boy like about him. The sentence was a teasing mockery of a cliche.

I snickered. His lips twitched.

Average was just a cover for me. Badboy was his. We were neither.

We were more.

I was about to say something, anythin,  but both our phones pinged to indicate a text, and I cocked my head to the side.

We both glanced at each other and then checked our phones.

My mood dropped immediately.

Unknown: See you in three days, Lila Smith. I have a lot to talk to you about.

Unknown: You remember me, don't you? It's Roy. Roy Gambino.

I took a shaky breath, my muscles tight.

So this was it, huh?

My time to end everything. For me to take my revenge.

But doubts flooded in, and fear made me think back on how he'd dominated my helpless being. What all he was capable of.

Would Mellisa be at peace if I did this?

I think even though she wouldn't wish harm upon anyone, she'd love to annihilate these people. Because they were not human but monsters.

I clenched my jaw, fury, and heartache warring inside of me.

"Hey."

I'd forgotten Derek was here and blinked, "Oh. Yeah?" I turned towards him.

Derek had made himself clear, and I was pretty sure he liked me.

Now all that was left was my answer.

But I couldn't bring myself to do something defining so our relationship would have a name. Not yet. Not until everything was over.

He showed me his phone.

"Tatiana is coming here. I don't know why, but she is." He clenched his jaw. "Since I have nothing to hide from you anymore..." He drawled, and I understood.

His eyes drifted to my phone, but I clenched it tighter, not wanting to tell him about Roy.

"I know."

We didn't say anything for a few moments, soaking in the silence and the forboding nature of the texts before I spoke.

"Ladenhill isn't government ruled. Here....The Mafia has a tighter grip."

Derek's eyes flew to me, and I could feel his stare, but I didn't meet his eyes, choosing to trace the necklace and earrings sitting in my lap.

"Mellisa was murdered. I know because I was there." My voice sounded dead even to me, but Derek silently listened.

"When the authorities arrived at the scene that day, I was dragged away and despite my screaming and crying and being a person, a victim, a witness....." My eyes dimmed, and the flower on the pendant reminded me of Mel. "No one heard."

I pushed on despite not wanting to. "But now the case has been reopened, and everyone involved is under custody." I smirked maliciously. "I hated being so helpless back then." A shaky breath later, "My Dad wanted to take over the case being a lawyer, but higher authorities had already closed it and refused to budge. My Mom hadn't been allowed to conduct the autopsy on Mellisa. Instead, Mr Serdano was left in charge." 

I finally met Derek's eyes. "Obviously, he'd been involved in forging the documents. The case couldn't be let out. Too many influential people would be hurt, and Ladenhill was a small town. Some threats and bribes later, the mayor, the doctor, the policemen...they were all won over."

I swallowed thickly, breaking away from his intense eyes and feeling my emotions swirling like a tornado. 

"No one spoke out. Mellisa's murder was buried, and for two years, it was a closed case. Not even a cold one." I sardonically chuckled.

"No one but me knows what happened there. And not many bothered to ask." I whispered. "I'm....."

I wanted to scream at him that I'm a victim too! But nobody bothered, and nobody knew.

Sure, Cam and Diego did, but the reasons were different, and I never opened up fully to anyone. The therapist I'd been forced to see didn't last longer than three months, and I didn't say anything to her. My therapy came in the form of fighting it out at Blue.

"You're a victim, too." Derek said the words I couldn't get past my throat, tears filling my eyes, and a realization colored with expectation was evident in his tone.

I didn't ever say it out loud because it felt miniscule compared to Mellisa's torture and death.

A tear fell down my cheek, and I clenched my jaw, hating it, hating the weakness.

"Don't hate your vulnerability." Sternly, Derek's rough hands cupped my cheeks, and his thumb swiped at my tear.

"Now you're a psychic?" I choked out, another tear falling.

His eyes softened. "No. I'm just a Lila-reader."

I let out a choked up snort. "Bullshit"

"Not."

I sniffled, and my eyes welled up with tears.

I hate it. Being weak in front of Derek. Always, goddamnit.

"Do you know how special your vulnerability makes me feel?"

I glared at him preposterously.

His lips ruefully tugged upwards, "It's because I feel you trust me enough to show me your tears." His eyes pleaded with me to understand him. "To you, I'm deserving of both your smiles and your tears, and there's no higher compliment you could give me."

My breath hitched, and I whimpered, touched. "So corny."

"Yeah, I didn't know I was capable of that either." He nodded seriously, "Apparently, you can work magic on me."

I let out a watery laugh. "You make me cry so much."

"It's because you don't cry enough."

And he was right.

Whenever I was with Derek, I felt my emotions on a different level. He made me feel liberated, so I wasn't choking on my feelings. 

Crying is therupatic, and it's a scientific fact.

But crying alone doesn't work for me.

I feel much for Derek, and with him, my every word carries weight, my every feeling is amplified, and I want to show him the truth of who I am.

"You're not a victim, Lila." His words singed themselves into my heart. "You're a survivor. And survivors embody strength."

He tugged on a stray strand of my hair.

"Don't you dare undermine your struggles." His warning tone only served to make me feel warm and reassured. "Your strength inspires me. Your compassion unravels me. You make me want to be the best version of myself, not just for you but for me myself. So...."

He tilted my chin to stare me in the eyes and leaned closer until our foreheads were touching.

"Thanks for surviving."

I closed my eyes, swallowing my choked up tears and my body trembling. Derek's comforting copper eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Steeling my spine, I looked at him, crouching in front of me, and spoke.

"Put the necklace on me when I'm sure Mellisa has found peace." I squeezed my eyes shut painfully. "Can you do that for me?"

I offered him the box and he gave me a kind look. "Of course. And when will that be?"

I smiled at him, a slash of teeth backed with strength that came from compassion and anger that came from a vengeful spirit. 

"Soon."

•♤•

After Derek and I had that whole in-depth conversation, the air was much clearer between us, and back at my place, I got to have a superb girl's night with Rebecca and Nora. Though Rebecca seemed tense at times, I don't think I disliked her.

And jealousy....

Well, if Derek wasn't confessing to me the other day, then I don't know what else a confession looks like.

We'd traded normal talk, completely at ease–okay there was heat and anticipation lying in wait, but we ignored it for the time being–and I was glad things were going back to normal.

Kind of.

Okay, no. Now, there was a big elephant in the room, and the Gambinos were going to be here in a day's time.

But right now, at around five in the evening and staring down from my window at the people making noise next door at the Greyson's, I wasn't prepared for this shock as I saw a familiar face.

"Cam?"

Cameron Garcia was here.

•♤•

A/N

Alright, that was one cheesy chapter, lol. But i enjoyed writing it, and I hope it was a good read. I really love Derek. Seriously, he's my ideal guy. And also not real :)

We finally meet Cameron! Are we curious to know who he is and what his role his? Any theories?
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Do vote and comment! Thank you!

~Skyler