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It makes me a shitty person, but seeing her happy when I was miserable was its own form of torture.

Ryker helps her pile the logs beside the fire before pulling her gloves off. He drops a kiss to her knuckles, a gentle gesture completely at odds with such a brutal man, but she brings it out in him.

She brings it out in all of them, and it’s what will ultimately get them killed.

Chloe turns, and I notice how pink her cheeks are from the cold. They used to turn that shade when I did something to upset her.

Her eyes lock with mine, and her smile falters. “Hey Damon,” she says, her tone more subdued now she realizes I’m in the room.

And I fucking hate it.

I hate that I’ll never be the reason for one of her smiles.

I hate that I’ll never be responsible for her laughter.

And I fucking hate that she still has the ability to make my chest tighten with nothing more than my name on her lips.

I don’t respond, instead returning my attention to the logs above me.

Once they settle somewhere, I’ll retreat back to my room to figure out my next steps.

“Asshole,” Ryker mutters.

“You got something to say, bodyguard?” I snap.

“You heard me.”

“Just leave it, Ry,” Chloe says softly as she steps between us.

“Yeah, Ry,” I taunt. I don’t know why I keep pushing him. If he is who they say he is, I shouldn’t put myself in his sights, but I can’t help it.

Chloe sighs, her eyes falling closed as she tries to retain her composure. “You’re an asshole, you know that?” she snaps. “They could have left you in Miami to deal with the consequences of your own actions.”

“You mean when I helped my brother break you out?”

“That was your choice! You can’t punish us for a decision you made!”

“Would you have preferred I let Ralph rape you?” I growl, the thought making my own stomach roll. “Or let Salvatore get impatient and send me to torture you until you gave us answers?”

Her eyes flare with annoyance. “You can never take responsibility for your own shit. You made the choice to help Ronan. You decided to save me. You can’t shift that onto me after the fact, especially when I was unconscious. I know blaming me for everything wrong in your life is one of your favorite hobbies, but not this time.”

Chloe turns on her heel, storming toward the bedroom she shared with Ryker and Ronan last night.

The door slams behind her, and Ryker turns his glare on me.

“I don’t know why she won’t let me kill you and put us all out of our misery.”

I open my mouth to respond, but he’s gone before I get the chance.

And once again I’m alone.

CHAPTER FIFTY

CHLOE

THEN

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO