Page 108 of My Undead Love Life

“I’m so sorry I didn’t find you sooner.” He sniffed. “Maybe if I had…”

She gave a weak, trembling smile. “You can’t blame yourself, Owen.”

Her fingers tightened weakly around his. “Go,” she whispered. “Before I…before I’m not me anymore.”

He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you like this.”

“You have to,” she told him. “Please, go. Mom is with me. Right, Mom?”

Victoria clutched her chest. “I’ll stay. I’ll stay with you. I won’t leave you. I’ll stay with you until the end and after.”

“Mom…” Oxi started.

“I am not your mother!” she screamed again, rage so intense it caused veins to stand out on her forehead.

“No,” he murmured, staring straight at her. “You’re not. You never really were.”

Her face twisted in a mix of surprise and rage.

Mad’s hand landed on Oxi’s shoulder before she could speak. “Storm’s here, and we can’t stay.”

Snow pounded harder against the building.

Oxi leaned forward, pressing his forehead gently to Olivia’s. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I know,” she said softly. “I know now. I love you, too, Owen.”

He stood slowly, and I knew it was tearing him apart to do it. I didn’t know how he did it, but he did. I couldn’t imagine if it were Tori.

Fuck, Tori. I hoped she was okay.

We backed away.

Victoria pulled Olivia into her arms, cradling her, whispering something we couldn’t hear. Frank and Jan stood near the door, faces pale and horrified. Jan had one hand pressed over her mouth, and Frank’s jaw was clenched hard enough that a muscle jumped in his cheek.

For a second, I thought they would stay with them, too.

But Jan looked at Victoria and Olivia, tears bright in her eyes, and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Victoria didn’t look at her, and Olivia just sobbed.

Frank touched Jan’s elbow. “We need to go.”

She nodded once.

We walked out of the station and into the starting snowstorm. None of us spoke as the storm swallowed the city. Within minutes, the firehouse was gone behind us, blocked by sheets of white and screaming wind. Snow lashed against my face, stinging any exposed skin and slipping past my scarf no matter how tightly I wrapped it.

Frank and Jan followed behind us, struggling through the drifts. I could hear Frank cursing under his breath whenever the wind shoved hard enough to knock Jan sideways.

I heard soft cries from Oxi through even the deafening wind, and my heart cracked wide open.

19

SPENCER

The storm had reduced everything to shapes and shadows.

I knew from sound alone that Luck, Mad, and Oxi were walking around me. Frank and Jan stumbled behind us.