“Don’t.I need to be alone right now.”
“Fine, but this isn’t over.We’re going to talk about this.”
She nods, biting back her tears, still not looking at me, and it kills me.
I’ve done the one thing I swore I wouldn’t.I’ve broken her heart and my own.
I walk back outside just as Thad and two of his deputies pull up, followed by Devil.
Chapter Twelve
Tomdiedonhisway to the hospital.He bled out.Jenny Lynn is sitting in a cell and charged with kidnapping.I thought she was so nice.Part of me had thought Justice had made up that story about them as a way to get me to do what he wanted.
We never truly know anyone, I guess.They were strangers, but they knew things about me.
Thad said that they had been following me for weeks.Jenny Lynn confessed to it all.She said they just wanted to scare me and force me to give back the money her husband spent watching my videos.Either way, they didn’t have good intentions.Because Tom fired at Justice, they let him go, citing it was self-defense.I’m grateful he was there and that he saved my life, but nothing has changed.I can’t be with him.
I know he doesn’t love Tawny, but I know him.He’s going to want to do the right thing and be there for his kid.He never had a true father growing up.Well, besides mine.I don’t want to ruin that relationship either.He’s in my father’s club, and I’d never want to get in the way of that.Not to mention he’s my brother’s best friend.
Storm would kill him if he knew that he’d slept with me.
There’s too much between us.A million reasons why we could never work, and yet there’s a part of me that burns hotter than ever for him.
I miss him so much, but I refuse to see him.Because if I do, I’ll give in.I’ll let him sweet-talk me into something that will only cause us both more pain.
I’ve been locked away in my old bedroom.Everyone has been giving me space considering I was nearly kidnapped at gunpoint.
But it’s Christmas Eve, and I promised my old man I’d cook dinner for him and Storm tomorrow, and I need to get busy prepping for it.And I guess he’s invited this Greylan chick.The woman who inherited the farm down the road from us.
Then there’s Justice.He usually eats here on the holidays because for years he’s been part of our family.This year he’s probably with Tawny.The idea of it makes me sick to my stomach.
He should be here with me.We should be about to tell my father and my brother that we’re together.
I shake those thoughts away and crawl out of bed even though it’s the last thing I want to do.
The house is quiet.No one will be here until later.The guys are doing their annual Christmas party at the clubhouse.
I go through the motions of getting dressed and turning on some Christmas music, but I’m anything but festive.
This may be my worst Christmas yet other than the year we lost my mother.
The one thing I’ve always wished for I can no longer have.
Christmas can suck a dick.
In the kitchen, I flick on the lights and turn on the coffee pot, though I wish I had something stronger to get me through the next few days.I’m going back after Christmas Day.I can’t stay here a second longer.I can’t chance seeing Justice or, worse, seeing him with Tawny.
I heard my dad talking to my brother about a business deal with Tawny’s father that depends on Justice marrying her.
Even if I wanted to be with him, there’s no way it could work.
Like he said.I don’t want to be his secret, and he doesn’t want to be my regret.And that’s exactly where the road leads.A big, fat, fucking dead end without him.Why put myself through more pain?
We had one night, and that’s all we will ever be.
I have to make my peace with that.
I pour myself a coffee and go into the living room to plug in the tree.I sit by the fireplace and stare out the window, wondering if he’s over at his cabin.
