Текст книги "Slaying the Dragon"

Автор книги: T.K. Leigh

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

“I’m fairly certain there’s a law against shitting in anything with a designer label.”

He scrunched his nose at me. “Possibly, but it still doesn’t mean that the newest addition to our family deserves anything but the best. And that’s exactly what he’ll get.”

“What if it’s a girl?”

“Trust me. It’s a boy. I have a knack for knowing these things.” He winked and placed a tender kiss on my cheek. For the first time since leaving my doctor’s office earlier, I actually felt as if I could get through this, that I didn’t need Tyler to be a good mom to the baby growing inside me.

I relaxed into Brayden’s arms, wanting to live in that moment for as long as possible. I was calm, the demons that had been haunting me absent. Brayden gave me a sense of stability and comfort that had been lacking from my life.

“You loved him, didn’t you?” he commented softly.

“I did, but it wasn’t real.”

“What makes you say that? I saw the way he looked at you. I don’t care how good you are. You can’t fake that.”

“He lied to me, boo.”

Running his fingers up and down my back, he said, “I think he was truthful with you where it mattered. Nothing dishonest comes from love. We may hurt those we love, but we often think we’re doing right by them. We tend to lie to those we care about to protect them.”

“There’s no black and white, only varying shades of gray hiding a kernel of truth,” I murmured, remembering my father’s words when he asked me to pretend as if he were dead. I had done so to protect him, to keep him safe. Did Tyler keep the truth of who he was and what he was doing for the same reason? And what was his kernel of truth?

His words from that day back in Boston, begging me to believe his love for me was real, replayed in my head, his remorse-filled eyes flashing through my memory. A look of realization washed over me and I snapped my eyes toward Brayden’s.

A knowing smile on his face, he continued, “Like I said, you can fake a lot of things, Mackenzie, but you can’t fake being in love. There’s your kernel of truth.”

Tyler

THE AIR WAS DRY and dusty as I sat in the passenger seat of the all-terrain vehicle Eli expertly navigated through the barren desert of Sudan on a hot June day. The heat was unbearable, but at least I had all my limbs, which was more than could be said of many of the refugees seeking safety from South Sudan at the camp my brother’s company had been sponsoring for the past several years. The path that led me to this point in my life was an odd one, but I needed to be here.

It had been over three months since I watched Mackenzie walk out of my life, but the look on her face when she found out the truth continued to haunt me, finding me no matter where I went. Every woman I saw had that same exact expression in her eyes. Men glared at me with a look of disgust, as if knowing I had destroyed the most precious gift there was…love. My betrayal and deception tormented me, reminding me I would never be worthy of anyone’s love again, especially Mackenzie’s. Regardless, I wasn’t giving up. I simply needed to do something to prove I had a heart…that I was someone worth taking a risk for…that I was someone worth forgiving despite the heartache I caused. But I needed to learn to forgive myself first, and I hoped that by protecting some of the most vulnerable people I had ever met would put me on the right path.

However, that didn’t make me miss her any less. I missed her smile. Her voice. Her soul. Her heart. Her love. I was a coward. Even though I had limited access to a satellite phone and a computer here in the middle of nowhere, I hadn’t called or emailed her, following my brother’s orders to refrain from contacting her for security reasons. Even if I could contact her, nothing I said would ever tell her what she wanted to hear, what she deserved to hear. Instead, I kept a journal of all the things I wanted to say to her, hopeful she would be able to read it one day and see that she didn’t escape my thoughts once over the months of our separation.

Carrying the guilt of the failed mission that would always haunt me, I tried to find peace in my work, in my new mission, but that day continued to repeat in my mind like a horrible movie.

An excruciating lump formed in my throat as I watched a flash of dark hair scramble from the elevator of my brother’s building and bolt through the revolving doors, exiting onto the busy Boston street. I was foolish to think I could keep the truth from her. She was bound to find out, but I didn’t want it to be like this. I wasn’t cut out for betraying people, no matter the reason. Months ago, I thought this was the perfect assignment for me. I hadn’t cared about a woman since Melanie, but Mackenzie had spoken to my heart and I fell for her hard and fast.

 I darted after her, knowing it was now or never. I needed to make my move. I needed to prove to her that it wasn’t an act, that it was so fucking real for me, that she truly was my lightning strike. Catching up to her with ease, I reached for her arm and spun her around. Her eyes grew wide, her mouth agape. Her chin quivered and I saw the hurt on her face, but I felt that spark and I knew she did, too.

Pinning her against the brick wall, I covered her mouth with mine. She pushed against me at first, her fists slamming into my chest.

“Go ahead!” I bellowed. “Fight me. I want you to!”

I earned everything she could do to me, but even when I was covered with bruises and scars, it still wouldn’t compare to the scar I had caused her heart. Mine would heal. I doubted hers would.

“I want you to hurt me. I deserve it! Cut me. Kill me. My heart won’t beat without you!”

Tears running down our faces, I pressed my lips against hers. After a brief struggle, she finally relented and melted into me. She combed her fingers through my hair, tugging at me, drawing me closer. Fire smoldered within as she moaned. A heat came off her body and I knew she couldn’t deny the attraction. Love like this didn’t happen twice. This was as real as anything I had ever experienced in my life.

I pulled back and rested my forehead against hers. A sigh escaped her lips and I grew hopeful we would make it through this, that our love for each other was stronger than the mountain of lies on which it was built. Her gaze softened and she cupped my cheek in her hand. All I ever needed was to feel her skin on mine. It was perfect. It was exhilarating. It was my home. She was my home.

Instantly, her back grew rigid and she pushed against my chest. Stumbling back, I flung my eyes open, watching in bewilderment as she ran down the street.

“You stay away from me, Tyler!” she howled, signaling for a cab. “I can’t… I’m not going to let you hurt me again!”

“I won’t!” I yelled, chasing after her. My chest tightened as I tried to make sense of the drastic turn. It was almost as if her brain was battling with her heart, which I knew was true. She had been doing that since we started our whirlwind relationship.

“There’s no possible way you won’t!” she exclaimed, wiping at the tears pouring down her face. “Every time I look at you, at your eyes, I’ll always wonder whether it’s real.”

A cab pulled up to the corner and she opened the door, about to get in.

“Please, Mackenzie…” My mouth was dry, a pained stare on my face as I pleaded with her.

“I should never have trusted my heart,” she said quietly. “The heart is impulsive and can’t be reasoned with.”

“Tell me what you want from me!”

“You really want to know?” she quivered, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Yes! Just tell me.” I swallowed hard. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

She paused, studying me, and my heart raced in anticipation.

“If you really care about me, if you really want to prove to me that it was real for you…” She stared long and hard into my eyes, the pain I caused covering her face, her eyes, her entire being. “You’ll let me go.”

I remained mute as I absorbed her words, a weight crushing my chest.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?” she asked, sobs overtaking her, and I knew those words were just as difficult for her to say as they were for me to hear. “Please,” she begged. “You need to let me go.”

“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered, brushing my thumb under her eye. “I love you, Serafina.”

“No. There is no Serafina. There’s no Mackenzie. There’s nothing left to love.” She stood on her toes and planted a soft kiss on my cheek, her body trembling. “Goodbye, Tyler. Enjoy the lonely.” She slid into the back seat of the cab and slammed the door.

An ache in my throat, I watched the yellow cab disappear down Atlantic Avenue. I was at a crossroads. Do I grab my car and follow Mackenzie wherever she was going, thus ignoring her pleas that I let her go? Or do I let her leave, proving to her that it was real for me? No matter my choice, it wasn’t going to lessen the damage I had done.

Retreating to the building, I ran into the elevator, frantically pressing the button for the garage. I jumped into my car and peeled onto Atlantic Avenue. As I tried to merge onto the freeway toward the airport, traffic was at a standstill and I slammed on my brakes. Craning my head, I saw a five car pile-up that must have happened no more than a minute beforehand, blocking all the lanes. I couldn’t help but think that someone was trying to keep me from getting to Mackenzie. Maybe I wasn’t meant to approach her yet. Maybe the best thing for me to do was give her space, like she asked.

Fishing my cell phone out of my pocket, I ignored dozens of missed calls from my brother and pressed Eli’s number.

“Tyler, what’s wrong? Your brother just called and is flipping out.”

“She knows,” I said quietly.

There was a long pause before Eli spoke again, his voice soft and sympathetic. “I’m sorry, Ty. Is there anything–”

“Actually, yes,” I interrupted, trying to mask the heartache in my voice. “That’s why I’m calling. Are you at the office?”

“Yes.”

“Run Mackenzie’s credit cards. And her friends’, as well. See if you can find any information about where she is. I’m stuck in traffic trying to get to the airport. I need to know if she’s even headed that way, or whether I should turn around and try one of the train stations instead.”

“I’m on it,” he said and I could hear him typing away at his laptop. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I responded dejectedly, my shoulders deflating as I impatiently waited for traffic to begin moving. “She can’t trust me. No matter what assurances I tried to give her, none of it mattered.”

“Do you blame her?” he asked, his voice guarded.

“No,” I sighed. “I’d probably think the same thing if I were in her shoes. She told me the only way she’ll know it was real is for me to do the one thing I don’t think I’m ready to do.”

“And what’s that?”

“Let her go.”

The line was silent, and the sound of honking horns echoed around me, as if that would clear the accident quicker.

“Tyler, don’t you think that maybe it’s…” He stopped short.

“What?”

“I’ve got a hit,” he explained in an excited tone. “Just ten minutes ago, there was a purchase on Brayden Weller’s credit card for a flight from Boston to Brownsville, connecting out of Dallas. Better hurry. The flight leaves in less than an hour.”

“I’m stuck in the Callahan tunnel. Traffic is at a standstill.”

“Do you want me to hop on the subway?” Eli asked. “I could try to stop her.”

I felt as if the universe was conspiring against me. “No, but thanks, Eli. I’ll just wait it out and hope I can get there in time. I don’t want her to think we’re chasing her.”

“You got it. Keep me updated.”

I hung up and tossed my phone in the cup holder of the SUV. The only thing keeping me moving forward was the possibility that Mackenzie’s flight was delayed.

An hour later, I finally pulled into the parking garage at the airport and bolted for the terminal. Adrenaline coursed through me as I searched the departures board for her flight. A heaviness set in my limbs when I saw it had just left. In a daze, I shuffled from the terminal, unable to think clearly.

I didn’t even know how I ended up there, but I found myself parking just off Storrow Drive by Boston University. As if on autopilot, I headed toward the Charles River, my legs carrying me to the boathouse where Melanie had breathed her last breath. I didn’t know what I hoped to gain from visiting this place. Maybe I hoped to find some sort of clarity in a world that seemed to turn on its head overnight.

As I sat down on a bench by the boathouse, I felt a lump in my pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box, flipping it open to stare at the ring I intended to give Mackenzie today. The sun reflected on it, causing the three-carat diamond to glimmer. I hated that I never got the chance to see it on her finger.

I had no idea how long I sat there, staring at the ring, when I heard a familiar voice.

“I had a feeling you’d be here.”

I snapped the box closed and turned my head. Meeting a pair of dark eyes, a forced smile crossed my face.

“Hey, Ma,” I uttered.

“Hey, baby. How are you holding up?”

I shrugged, shoving the black box in my pocket and hiding my face.

“Tyler…” She sat beside me on the bench as I stared at the gentle waves of the river. “You can’t hide from your mother.”

“I hurt her, Ma.” I returned my eyes to hers, feeling all her compassion, understanding, and love envelope me from that one look, despite the fact she probably disapproved of my actions.

“You did. She has every right to be upset with you. It takes ages to learn to trust someone, but only one lie to ruin it.”

Tears formed in my eyes and I struggled to reel in my emotions. “I ruined it.”

“Maybe,” she said. “Maybe not. What did she say?”

“To let her go,” I replied, barely able to speak the words.

“And did you?”

I nodded. “She got in a cab and I couldn’t get to her in time.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Tell me. Did you let her go?”

I shook my head. “She’s a part of me, Ma. But she said the only way for me to prove I do love her and all of my feelings are real was to let her go.”

She nodded. “Then give her some time.”

I shot my head up, surprised she wasn’t urging me to go after her. “Really?”

“Trust me, baby. If she wants you to let her go, all she probably wants is some time to herself and to be with her friends. She wants to cry on their shoulders and commiserate about what an asshole you are. Let her have this time. If you want any shot at winning her back, you’ll give her exactly what she wants. Right now, that’s a life without any reminders of what she considers to be her biggest mistake… You.”

I opened my mouth, wanting to argue that letting her go wasn’t an option, but she held up her hand. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out.”

“I don’t know if I can stay away,” I admitted. “I’ve seen her every day for the past six months. I–”

“Tyler, sometimes, we need to give those we love space to work out their feelings, and I’m not talking about months or even weeks. Right now, she’s upset and confused. Her world’s been torn apart. She needs to put the pieces back together, but she can’t do that with you in her life. Not yet, anyway. Give her space to find her life. Eventually, she’ll find her love. She’ll find the truth amidst the lies. But you need to give her time.”

I gazed ahead as runners jogged along the promenade path, considering my mother’s words. Sighing, I turned to her. “How do you always seem to have all the answers?”

“Because I’m old, baby.” She smiled at me, the wrinkles around her eyes showing. “Do you know how many mistakes I’ve made in my life?”

“No.”

“Well, I’ve made enough that I can speak to you from experience. Trust me. The best thing you can do is give her time. Then you can go to her and beg forgiveness with the most ridiculously expensive jewelry money can buy.” She nudged me and I laughed at her attempt to bring me out of my sour mood. “She’ll come around.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I’m your mother.” She winked, a sparkle in her eyes. “I’m always right.” Her jovial expression turned serious once more as she grabbed my hands in hers. “Go back to your routine, Tyler. It’s gotten you through tough spots in the past. Do it again. It will give you the clarity you need right now.”

A loud throat clearing sounded and we snapped our heads up to see Alexander standing off to the side. I could see guilt hidden beneath his tough exterior. Even though he should have been upset at the failed mission, it was readily apparent he wasn’t there as the head of the security company, about to berate me regarding what happened. He was there as my brother.

“Well,” my mother said, placing her hand on my leg. “I think you boys need to have a bit of a chat. I love you, Tyler, baby.” She planted a soft kiss on my temple and, for an instant, I wanted to think everything would be okay, that it would all work out. 

A group of cyclists flew by as she got up from the bench and strode to Alexander. He bent his almost six-and-a-half foot frame down to allow my mother to place a kiss on his cheek and she whispered something in his ear. I couldn’t hear what, but I knew she had to be giving him a piece of her mind.

She retreated from us and Alexander approached me with a shrunken stature, exhaling as he sat next to me on the bench. He placed his forearms on his legs and stared at the river. An awkward silence passed as we both sat contemplating everything. The sun had begun to set over the city, a chill in the spring air. Runners were out getting some exercise, people were walking their dogs… The world continued to spin even though it felt like I was stuck in that moment when Mackenzie learned the truth.

“Ty, I need to talk to you about something,” Alexander finally said.

The timbre of his voice gave me pause. I glanced to him, observing him run his hands through his dark hair, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

“What is it?”

He turned his eyes to meet mine and I braced myself for what he was about to tell me, unsure of whether I could deal with any more bad news. “You can’t go back,” he said softly.

“I’m not. Not yet, anyway. I’ll give her some time and–”

“No, Tyler,” he interrupted, his voice firm. “It’s not safe–”

“And it is for Mackenzie?” I responded, my voice incredulous. “What about Charlie? What if he figures it out and goes after–”

“We need to cease all contact for everybody’s protection, including hers.”

“Why?”

He rubbed his temples. I could sense the wheels turning in his head, debating whether to tell me the truth or simply something to appease me for the moment. “Please, Tyler, I need you to trust me. I’ve worked special ops long enough to know when something isn’t right and, at this moment, there is something severely fucked up going on. I called our agency handler to give him a status report on the mission.”

“Yeah…?”

“According to his secretary, he’s been missing for a week. I couldn’t get any more information out of her, but I have a feeling in my gut that it’s related to this case. He made his last contact with her on the same day Charlie made headlines for being wanted for all those murders. Based on everything you’ve been telling me, I can’t help but think there may be a connection between the two, that there’s something bigger at play here than we’ve been led to believe. I have a bad feeling my agency handler’s been compromised. It’s only a matter of time until they turn to you.”

“Who?” I asked, my heart racing.

“I have no idea. It could be anyone. Maybe someone who was worried word would get out that Mackenzie’s father possibly had nothing to do with everything of which he’s been accused. I’m sure that’s the reason you refused to tell me his location the other night.”

I shot my eyes to his, shock washing over me. “How did you know?”

“It was pretty obvious, Ty. I know all your tells. I knew you were covering for him and, well… I get it. But if I’m right, and I have a feeling I am, your connection to Mackenzie could potentially make you a sitting duck. If they think you have even the slightest inkling someone other than Galloway is to blame, I don’t need to spell out what they’ll do. I need you to disappear.”

“What? I can’t–”

“Just one month. That’s all I’m going to ask of you. I need time to comb through the intel you gathered and find out what’s really going on here. I have a new assignment for you anyway. One that’s more of a humanitarian project. No lies. No betrayal. Just helping people who desperately need it.”

“But what about Mackenzie?”

“Nothing will happen to her, Tyler. I promise you. I made a few arrangements and will have eyes on her around the clock.”

I shook my head, confused. “But what about you? You were involved in this assignment, too. What if someone comes after you?”

“Don’t worry about me. It’s my job to worry about you.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “You’re my brother, Ty, and I love you.” He met my eyes. “Plus, I promised Dad years ago I would always watch out for you. That’s why I need you to leave. Eli, too. I need you to go somewhere else so I know nothing will happen. Like I said, if our agency handler has been compromised, your life could be at risk. This is me fulfilling my promise to Dad.”

I stared ahead at the Charles River, my mother’s advice to give Mackenzie some space echoing in my head. I hated the idea of abandoning her, leaving her vulnerable to anyone who wanted to do her harm, but if there was one thing I knew about my brother, it was that he kept his promises. If he vowed to watch out for and protect Mackenzie, I knew he would take that oath as serious as he took the oath he pledged to his country all those years ago.

“Do you swear you won’t let anything happen to her?” I asked, my eyes fierce.

“I give you my word, Ty,” he assured me, conviction in his voice. “She’ll be better protected than the president. I’ve sent my best team down there to ensure it.”

Absorbing his words, I sighed, running my hands through my hair. “When do I leave?”

“You okay?” Eli asked, cutting through my thoughts about how one month had turned into three. So much time had passed, the rift between myself and Mackenzie had widened. I wondered if I even crossed her mind anymore. I couldn’t forget her if I wanted to. Her existence was permanently etched on my heart…on my soul.

“Yeah. I’m good.”

Eli glanced at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “Liar.”

“I said I’m good. I didn’t say I was fantastic. Just let me be good for a minute.”

He shook his head and clenched his jaw, taking his foot off the gas as he approached a guard shack at the entryway of the refugee camp. We nodded a greeting to one of the security company’s employees and were granted access. Driving the outskirts of what had become my home, we navigated past rows and rows of white tents.

This experience had been humbling for me. These people had nothing to their names. Due to civil war and political unrest, they had been forced out of their homes, the massacre of thousands upon thousands of their people causing them to seek asylum. When they left, many of them lost their families, their lives, their identities. The refugees spanned all age groups. I didn’t know how any of the older people in the camp coped with the fact they would never see their home again. The only thing that got me through each day was knowing that, with every passing hour, I was that much closer to finally being home. These people didn’t have that luxury.

The past few months weren’t without hardships, despite how much I believed in what I was doing. When I first arrived here, I wondered how long I would last out in the stagnant desert heat. But when I stepped out of the tiny tent that had become my home and a little African boy, who couldn’t have been more than six or seven, his right arm missing from his elbow down, came up to me and asked if I was here to help, nothing else mattered. I wasn’t here to betray or deceive anyone. I was here to make a difference, to protect these people, to ensure they had access to everything I had taken for granted my entire life…food, water, education, clothing, medical aid. They would have it all and then some. Working this assignment made me proud of my family’s company. Despite the numerous questionable operations it had been involved in, the humanitarian missions it sponsored outweighed all of that. Seeing women playing with their children, not worrying about whether today would be the day they could no longer outrun the enemy, made it all worth it.

“What did your brother say?” Eli asked, pulling up to the administration building.

We had just spent the better part of the day traveling to and from the only communications center within a hundred miles. Infrastructure in this country left much to be desired, and internet and phones were practically non-existent. I did have a satellite phone; however, it tended to be sketchy at best and completely useless most of the time. My only means of somewhat reliable communication with the outside world was through a weekly visit to a command center located three hours away. It was during this time that I tried to check in with Alexander.

“Not much. He still has Martin and his team keeping an eye on Mackenzie. He’s yet to see any viable threat from Charlie or anyone else, but he’s ordering everyone to maintain their post. He must feel guilty. Why else would he send his right-hand man down to Texas to watch over her? That must count for something.” I wanted to believe my brother was a good person, that he was trying to make amends for how things had spiraled out of control between us, but there was a nagging I couldn’t ignore, especially as the weeks went by and I was told to maintain course.

“And our assignment?” Eli asked. “Did you talk to him about whether he’s figured out what’s really going on with all the shit that went down when your cover was blown? I don’t need to remind you by whom.”

“He still needs us out here,” I responded firmly. “That’s all he would say. That, and it’s not safe to come back yet.”

He gripped the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes. “And you believe him?” he asked through his hard-set jaw.

“I have to,” I insisted. “He’s my brother. Despite everything else, I need to believe he wouldn’t keep me here unless it was necessary. Or else…”

“What? Or else what?” Eli urged, almost begging me to say the words. We had been having this same discussion for the past month. Every week, I had gone to touch base with my brother. And every week, he told me I needed to stay, despite his promise at the start of this assignment that, no matter what, it would only be for a month.

“Or else he’s not the man I thought he was,” I answered softly. “Who I always looked up to and admired when I was a kid.” I shook my head, not wanting to believe the words. “But for now,” I continued, maintaining my composure, “I need the routine. I need the comfort of following orders. It’s what got me through everything with Melanie. The only way I survived that was because of the discipline the navy gave me. Working for my brother’s company is a lot like that. He gave us a mission and I’m going to obey orders. Look around you!” I gestured at the refugees strolling through camp. “These people need us, Eli. They have nothing. If all I do is make one person feel safer, then this is where I belong. Not back home, but here.” I opened the door of the ATV and headed toward the large tent structure in front of us.

“Tyler!” Eli shouted, dashing out of the vehicle and catching up to me. Although he was slightly shorter than my six-foot, four-inch frame, he made up for that in build. He kept his dark hair at a sensible length, the discipline he learned in the Marines evident in his appearance. I, however, kept my sun-lightened hair somewhat unkempt. If I remembered to shave once, it was a good week. What did I care? I didn’t have anyone to impress.

“Listen, I understand following orders,” he continued. “But, at some point, you need to forget about doing what you’re told is right and do what’s right for you. From where I’m standing, you’re turning a blind eye to what your brother’s doing so you don’t have to face your problem. That’s what you did with Melanie…”

“What?” I hissed, my green eyes growing wide in shock. Eli had never been one to question following orders. In fact, he had always adhered to a strict code of ethics, but our history predated him working for the security company. I supposed his loyalty to me outweighed that to his job. “I didn’t–”

“Yes, you did! You just admitted it! After she died, you ran. You went into the navy so you didn’t have to deal with your grief! I get it, Tyler. Believe me. After my father died in the line of duty, I was so fucking angry. I hated that he lost his life to save some sorority girl.”

I nodded, remembering that case. It was splashed all over the news. I was a junior in college, and Eli was starting his third year with the Marines when the case that rocked our city for years finally came to a bloody end. Eli’s dad was a homicide detective and brought the man responsible for brutally assaulting and murdering over a dozen college females to justice. Sadly, Eli’s father sacrificed his life to save that of the man’s last victim. Eli had to sit in court nearly every day as he stared at the girl who survived, wondering whether her life was more valuable than his father’s.

“I couldn’t bear being around town because, everywhere I went, I was faced with a reminder of what he gave his life for. I ran back to the Marines, even after they offered to give me an honorable discharge to be with my family. You’re doing the same thing, Ty! You’ve never allowed your scars to heal. At some point, it will all become too much and you’ll bury yourself in your guilt. That’s why you’re happy to stay here and help all these people, but not because you genuinely want to. You’re trying to bury your guilt in all the good you’ve been doing, but you can’t hide it forever. You can’t run away from your mistakes for the rest of your life. You need closure.”

“Maybe closure’s not in the cards for me,” I said softly. “She told me to let her go.” I spun away from him. I hadn’t had a moment’s peace in months. I hadn’t been alone in months. And, right now, I wanted to be alone.