I shake my head. I’m too worked up, too mad to think straight. Mia’s reasons, Mia’s pain—I’m too angry to see them clearly.
At that moment, Mia herself walks through the balcony doors.
“Sorry,” she says softly. “I know you said you needed space, but…”
She doesn’t finish her sentence. Lets it hang in the air between us.
I should be angry at her for this, but I’ve used up my reserve, so I stay silent.
She takes that as encouragement. Slowly, she walks up to me. Her dress sways with every step, stunning in the moonlight. Every time I think I can get over Mia Winters, all it takes is one look to remind me I fucking can’t.
Forgiveness is at my fingertips, but I don’t grasp it yet. I’ve been this way too long to change at the drop of a hat—to forget all the programming I’ve spent twenty years painstakingly building.
“I’m sorry,” she says again.
I want to believe her. Want to believe her so fucking badly, it’s tearing me apart. “I know you are.”
It’s the first time I don’t tell her to stop apologizing. It isn’t lost on her.
“I’ve hurt you.” It’s not a question. Her eyes shine with tears as she says it.
I don’t answer. It’s not in my nature to admit something like that—to let my wounds be seen.
“I don’t want him, you know.” She steps closer. We’re inches apart now, her breath hot on my lips as she speaks. “It’s you. It’s always been you.”
“Then why didn’t you just tell me?”
Her smile turns sad. “Why does anyone do anything?”
I don’t need to ask what she means. I know the answer as well as she does.
For love.
Her son needed his father alive. But he needed me, too. Needed me to be a dad to him, the way Brad would never be. And God help me, I need that little kid as much as he needed me—to keep me sane, keep me human.
And if I’d killed his father…
It would have poisoned us forever.
“I think I have a way,” she says. “To get Kallie back.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But I’ll need you to trust me.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
Mia nods, like she expected precisely that answer. Disappointment flits across her face, but it’s brief. Gone as soon as it comes. “I understand.”
Wordlessly, she stands on her tiptoes.
It’s hell—resisting the urge to kiss her. It’s a fight I can’t win.
Our lips meet. I taste salt in our kiss. Her tears, falling freely.
Then I feel a sting.
It’s so quick, I barely realize what’s happening. “Mia…” I stare at the syringe in her hand. “What did you…?”
