My old man.
Ace Gunner.
The root of half the shit I’ve been carrying since I was a kid.
The man who made me believe I wasn’t enough.
The man who still thinks he can reach into my life and take what he wants.
Not anymore.
I roll my shoulders, tension settling into something sharper.
Colder.
Focused.
Alex steps out of the truck and stretches, “Morning, boss.”
“You ready to haul ass today?” I ask him.
“Sure thing.”
“Good. First stop,” I say, voice low and certain, “is Ace Gunner.”
Because if I’m going to face one devil in my life—might as well face them all.
And this time?
I’m not walking away.
Not from him.
Not from the truth.
And sure as hell not from her.
Chapter 14-Esme
Trying to shove everything that just happened into a neat little box?
Yeah.
That’s not working.
Not even a little.
My body still feels him.
Everywhere.
My lips are swollen, my skin too sensitive, my thoughts a tangled mess of what the hell did we just do and why did it feel so right.
And my heart?
God.
Don’t even get me started on that.
