“I’m going to have this baby, Grave. But I won’t raise him or her in a world where their father is always high.”
She steps away from me, and I allow it. I stand in the middle of my brother’s spare bedroom while she crawls back into the bed and cries. I remain silent, unable to move. Barely able to breathe at the tightness in my chest.
She’s right.
And it hurts like fucking hell. Minutes, maybe hours, pass by before her cries stop, and her breathing evens out. She’s fallen asleep, and I’ve just stood here. Numb. Without turning to look back at her, I finally get my heavy feet to move. I walk out the front door of my brother’s house without bothering to say a word to anyone.
And Emilee’s words finally make sense.She will never look at you and not hate you for what you did to her!She was also right. April will never forgive me, and I’ll never forgive myself.
THIRTY-EIGHT
GRAVE
Istand next to the bed once again. My face is swollen and still pounds. I need a fucking hit, but I became a different man last night. I don’t want to bury what I feel.
Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. She doesn’t even stir. “I love you, April.” Then I turn and grab the bag that I packed when I went home last night.
Once again, I leave my brother’s house. I walk over to my car and open the driver’s side door.
“Running away?”
I glance up to see Titan sitting on his front porch, coffee mug in one hand and his cell in the other. “You ever sleep?”
“Nope.” His eyes drop to my bag, but he doesn’t say anything.
I run a hand through my hair, locking eyes with his. I’m going to face this head-on. Taking in a deep breath, I say, “I need a favor.”
He sets his coffee down, rises from his porch, and walks over to his three-car garage. “Let’s go.”
I make my way to him and get into his car. As we pull out of his driveway and through the gate, the silence between us stretches. I reach up, removing my eyebrow piercing, lippiercing, and then my watch. I place them all in his center console.
He remains silent as he merges on the interstate. I turn to the window, looking out at Las Vegas as the sun rises, knowing that today is a new day and a fresh start. That second chance Titan was talking about to make things right. To be who she needs.
He pulls into the roundabout and comes to a stop. We sit in silence as I stare at the building looming before us. Lush bushes surround the white stucco building. It looks like a retreat. Somewhere I’d never go. But April has brought me here. She’s going to save my life.
“You know…” Titan breaks the silence, and I look over at him. “We may not be blood, but I’ve always considered you a brother.”
I swallow through the tightness in my throat at his words.
He reaches across the center console and pulls me in for a tight hug. I slap his back, holding back my emotion. I hate how much I feel. I’ve always tried to smother it, but not anymore.
“Take care of her for me?” I ask him when he pulls away.
He nods. “Of course.”
I pull my cell out of my back pocket and hand it over to him.
“Want me to walk you in?” he asks, looking over at the double doors.
I chuckle at that. “No. I think I can manage.”
He looks over at me without an ounce of humor in his dark blue eyes. “I’m here for you, Grave. Whatever you need. Whenever you need it.”
I nod, unable to voice my gratitude, that knot back in my throat again. Then I turn and exit his car, knowing I’m about to give up any freedom that I have.
APRIL
I open myheavy eyes and roll over. My head pounds, and my eyes are puffy. I’m pretty sure I cried in my sleep.
