Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Fuck, she’s killing me.
“Actually, never mind. I don’t want to know.” My chest aches so hard it hurts to breathe. I take several steps away from her.
Her glassy eyes widen, her face paling even more. “Wait, Colton!” She reaches her arm out toward me. Like I had done that night of the Christmas gala, and she had refused to take my hand. “Don’t walk away, listen—”
“Don’t,” I snarl, holding a hand up to stop her from coming closer. Emotion clogs my throat. Anger, frustration and hurt. I let down the icy walls around my soul for her. I softened my heart for her. But in the end, it meant absolutely fucking nothing. “No, I’m not waiting, Riley. Go to him,” I growl furiously. Fuck this.
I can’t bear to be in her presence any longer. To look into the eyes I dream of every night and to smell the sweet scent of clementines on her skin.
“Wait—!” she calls out after me, a little panicked. “Colton, listen to me!”
But I’m already stalking away. Pushing open the exit door to the stairwell, I get the hell out of here. I’m not going to beg for her affections.
Not when she’s already made her choice.
I made a mistake by being patient and giving her space. I tried to be the good guy, but look where that has gotten me. I shouldn’t have waited this long.
I should have taken Riley when I had the chance.
Should have made her mine…
Before Grayson could have his chance to steal her away.
I should have collected my debt a long time ago.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Grayson— 22 years old
I know I have no right to storm into her life and accept me again, but as long as she gives me a chance to explain…
I want her to know the real reason behind our breakup and then she can decide if she wants to forgive me or not.
If she decides not to forgive, I’ll understand…
But I’m not giving up on her again.
She loved me once and I think somewhere in her heart, she still loves me.
I just want to reignite that love.
To give us another chance.
I know Riley is still single… has been single since me. But I also know Colton Bennett has been vying for her attention. I wonder if I’m too late.
I wonder if he has already won her over.
Does that mean I will have to share her heart with him?
They are not together yet, so I know I still have a chance. It’s wrong of me to think this way, but when it comes to Riley… I’ve always been selfless.
If I had been selfish before, I wouldn’t have pushed her away. I would have kept her by my side, despite the dangers.
But for once in my life—
I want to be selfish. For her.
I feel her presence before I see her. “You’re drawing me,” Riley murmurs behind me, her voice sliding over my skin like a sweet caress. “I didn’t know you still drew me in your sketchbook.”
I place the sketchbook on the bench, next to me and rise to my feet. Turning around, I come face to face with Riley. She’s wearing a thick jacket, a scarf around her neck and white woolen hat on top of her head.
“I’ve drawn you many times in the last few years,” I confess, my voice thick with emotions.
Riley blinks, her cheeks flushing. “Oh.”
When she falls silent, I walk around the bench and come to stand in front of her. Moving closer, until the front of our shoes are touching. “Thank you,” I tell her softly. “For agreeing to hear me out. You have no idea how much this means to me. You, calling and asking for us to meet up. I wanted to give you some space, until you’re ready for us to talk.”
I wanted her to come to me.
This way, I wasn’t forcing myself into her life again.
I stayed… I waited, but I wanted it to be her choice.
Riley swallows, her eyes slightly glassy. “Will you tell me the truth then?”
I reach out, my fingers grazing her cheek as I tug a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. She sucks in a sharp inhale. “There’s so much to say, Goldilocks. But yes, I will tell you everything. No more lies. No more hiding.”
I’ll tell her the whole truth.
About my love for her and how it was never a lie.
The reason behind our breakup.
The truth about Harrison Avery, my father. His illegal business and all the devastating, horrible things he has done.
Drug dealing and the trade of illegal firearms.
Human-trafficking.
Even though the details are classified, and telling her the truth goes against my mission and ethics. Riley deserves to know the reason behind the tragedy that has become us.
Maybe once she learns of the truth, she’ll understand why I had to walk away.
The only thing that ever mattered to me was to keep her safe. To protect her.