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She sashayed down the path and slid into the driver’s seat of her spanking new Audi A6 e-tron.

She could afford it.

Ana’s modeling took off when she was 18.

At the height of her career, between 21 and 23, soon after we married, she was in high demand for Vogue and Sports Illustrated shoots or runway appearances.

I funneled her fees into shares and made sure her wealth grew through private fund investments.

She learned to trade herself, and although Ana had long since transcended her former ‘supermodel’ label, her business savvy kept her portfolio tight even now.

She invested in luxury real estate in London and Nashville, and even had a stake in a French skincare line.

I had it on good authority, AKA my lawyers, that even though she contracted with the respected magazine Panoramik as a photographer, she also owned substantial equity in its holdings.

A woman after my heart.

Hell, she still held it in the palm of her hand.

I leaned against the jamb, my eyes locked on her fading taillights, yearning surging through me as she disappeared.

With a sigh, I eased back in and closed the front door, just as Levi stepped out of my studio, holding my folder of sax notes.

He strolled after me into the living room, perched on my sofa, and crossed his massive arms over his chest, his eyes softening with real compassion.

‘She makes you sweat, my man.’

‘Even after all these freakin’ years,’ I sighed.

Hell, she heated me and left me scorching and freakin’ thirsty every time I set eyes on her.

However, she’d played me like a fool.

While she’d never cheated on me, she walked out when things got too hard, lit up our vows, and dipped on me.

Unforgivable.

Still, I loved her; I’d drop everything for her if she begged me, which made her my ultimate weakness.

I tossed the goggles inside Raff’s case, then slumped into an armchair.

‘I see you’re still carrying her in there, Deke,’ Levi murmured, tapping his chest and shaking his head. ‘It’s a hella lot to keep hauling around.’

‘It’s been five years of push, pull, and pain, man,’ I said, rubbing my chin with the back of my hand.

I fell silent, and Levi did too.

I never enjoyed talking to anyone, even my bandmates, about Ana. However, even in the past, during the lead-up to our divorce, I had spoken to Angel and Judah mostly about my frustration and helplessness.

But I wasn’t ready to share at this juncture.

I tilted my head toward the view outside, staring at the clouds shifting against the blue expanse.

The ache in my soul was buried so deep, it felt like it’d never lift.

‘Remember, brother, that you’re a soldier at heart,’ Levi muttered, breaking through my thoughts.

I swiveled my head, my weary eyes falling on him.