Colin: Princess, I’ve missed you. I’ll bring the money. Shall we say ten at the clubhouse?
Me: Five grand. I’ll be here.
It doesn’t surprise me he knows exactly where I am. He’s been patiently waiting while this entire shitshow played out, knowing I’d end up right back at his feet.Begging.And now, he’s won. I’ll go back home and do whatever he demands.
But it’ll feel a lot less painful than being here.
The sobs keep coming until my throat’s raw, until I can’t tell if I’m crying from pain, anger, or exhaustion anymore. The morning chill seeps through my clothes, but I don’t care. I just stay there, knees in the dirt, fingers tangled in the grass, trying to hold myself together before I fall apart completely.
Shadow
From the edge of the car park, I watch her. She’s small against the open space, hunched under that damn tree like the world’s crushed her. Every sound she makes feels like a hit to the chest.
I tell myself to walk away, to give her the distance I promised. After all, this is her own doing.
But I can’t.
She’s shaking, clutching at the dirt like it’s the only thing keeping her grounded. And all I can think about is how I helped put her there.
Grizz’s words echo in my head.You wanted to test her, now you got your answer.
But this . . . this isn’t a test. This is punishment, and I’m the bastard holding the whip.
My hand curls into a fist at my side. I take a step forward, then stop. If I go to her now, she’ll push me away, and she’d be right to.
So, I just stand there, hidden by the shadow of the clubhouse, watching her fall apart piece by piece.
Kasey appears beside me, arms folded, her gaze following mine to the tree. “She okay?” she asks.
“Does she look it?”
Her brow furrows, eyes softening as she studies Remi. “She looks like a woman on the edge. Someone so broken, she can’t even breathe.”
My chest tightens. “Yeah,” I mutter, “she does.”
Kasey glances sideways at me. “And you’re just gonna stand here and watch it happen?”
I nod once. “Yep.”
“Does it feel good?” she asks quietly, not mocking but curious.
I shake my head, jaw tense. “Not really.”
“She’s hurt. You’re hurt. No one’s winning this.” She sighs, shifting her weight. “So, maybe stop acting like pride’s more important than love and just go fix it.”
I scoff, eyes still on Remi. “If only it was that easy.”
Kasey shrugs, stepping back towards the clubhouse. “It is, Shadow,” she says simply. “You’re just too damn stubborn to see it.”
She leaves me there, her words hanging heavy in the cool morning air.
Kasey’s words are still echoing in my head when the sound of heels on gravel breaks the quiet. I drag my gaze from Remi just as Sasha rounds the corner.
“There you are,” she says, her tone bright but grating. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I don’t answer. My eyes flick straight past her to where Remi’s still on her knees beneath the tree, her shoulders shaking.
Sasha follows my line of sight and rolls her eyes. “Oh, for God’s sake. She’s crying? Bit dramatic, isn’t it? I actually held back.”
