“He’s fine,” I reply, stiffening. “It’s been a long night as you can imagine.”
“My agents have a few more questions to ask you, but then you’re free to return home,” he says. “I can have a couple of my men drive you to the nearest airport.”
I nod and he disappears toward the kitchen, the medical examiner following him.
“I should go pack,” Emery mumbles, listlessly standing up.
“I’ll help you,” I say, following her to the staircase.
She stops, muscles tensing. “I don’t need help.”
Swallowing, I place a hand on her shoulder, hoping my touch will break through her shields. “Please look at me, Emery.”
“I can’t,” she whimpers, shaking her head. “You… You knew. This whole time, you?—”
“I fell in love with you long before I knew you had Alison’s heart,” I whisper, voice broken and hoarse. “I only found out when you were in the hospital and you realized that?—”
“I don’t believe you,” she mutters, her back turned to me. “You knew… You knew and that’s why you chased me, that’s why you wanted me. Because a part of her is still inside me. You don’t love me, Quinton. It’s her. You were chasing her ghost. Not me.”
“That's not true, Emery,” I rasp, unbearable pain festering inside me. “I love you.You. Other than her heart, you are nothing like Alison.”
Slowly, she turns around, her eyes bloodshot and glossy. “I never believed in fate before,” she whispers, “but how can I deny it now? I have her heart, and that heart drew both of you in. You were unfinished business to her, I’m realizing. And that’s why?—”
“That’s nonsense,” I state, reaching up and cupping her damp cheek. “Alison is dead, Emery. She’s gone. An organ doesn’t have magical powers. Her heart is keeping you alive, yes, but it’syourheart we fell in love with. Not hers. Please, darling, don’t say such terrible things.”
“Just because something is terrible,” she says, “doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
I exhale a heavy breath, my heart aching for her, with her. And him. “Emery, we can get through this together. I know we can. We’re stronger than this.”
“I don’t feel very strong right now, Quin.” Emery pulls away from my touch, her features dreary and hurt. “I need time. Time to process everything. Time to figure this out.” She swallows, gaze flitting toward the living room. “You should try and talk to him. He doesn’t… He can’t even look at me right now.”
“I know the feeling,” I whisper, dropping my head in defeat.
“I’m not trying to hurt you, Quin,” she says quietly. “I… I still love you. I love both of you so much but this? Is love enough to overcome something so incredibly fucked up?”
“Yes.” I snap my head up, my gaze unwavering in its resolve. “We can overcome anything.”
She tilts her head, a weak smile on her face. “Then go talk to Damon. He needs you right now. More than I need you.”
Reluctantly, I nod and head to the living room where Damon remains in his catatonic state. I kneel in front of him, placing a hand on his knee. He doesn’t acknowledge my presence, continuing to stare off into the distance.
“We’re going back to New York,” I say gently. “We’ll get a lift to the airport in an hour or so.”
Damon doesn’t reply, simply keeps his vacant gaze fixed ahead.
“I know you’re in pain, Damon. I know it hurts. But it was an accident. You didn’t mean to…” I swallow, my gut twisting. “Thelight barely turned red. You… It was a second, Damon. You were only a second…”
Damon's jaw clenches. "A second is enough to change everything.”
“Damon…”
He curls his hands into fists. “I was drunk and speeding. I should be in jail. I should?—"
“Perhaps, but you're not,” I say, cutting through his self-condemnation. “I know what happened is tragic and it could have been avoided, but we can't change the past, Damon. We can't go back in time.”
Damon glares at me, but there's only sorrow in his eyes. "You, my father,yourfather... you all knew. You all knew Ikilledsomeone. And not just anyone. Alison. I... I understand my father, why he tried to hide such a heinous crime, but you? You loved her, Quinton. I took away the life of someone we both loved. Why are you trying to console me? Help me?"
“Because, Damon.” I swallow. “Because whether or not I’d admit it to myself, you are someone I care deeply about.” I shift uncomfortably. “We have known each other for decades, Damon. We had plenty of years together that were untainted by mistakes and poor decisions. One cannot disregard such memories.”
