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I can’t take back what I did to Kristy. I can’t undo the role I played in her death. Therefore, I’ll never be able to take away Eden’s pain.
I’ve earned my life sentence in purgatory, but Eden hasn’t.
And unlike Cain, I won’t make her serve the time with me. It’s not fair to her.
She shouldn’t have to live the rest of her life with a constant reminder of what she’s lost. What she never got the chance to have.
And quite frankly, I’m fucking tired of living with the guilt. My penance to Kristy has been served.
Eden’s strong and resilient—just like Kristy wanted her to be. Mission accomplished.
I prop my arms on either side of Eden’s head, caging her against the wall. “Tell me it doesn’t hurt to look at me now.”
As predicted, she averts her gaze. I don’t blame her.
“I can’t.” Her hand finds my jaw. “But that doesn’t mean it will always be this way.”
She doesn’t get it. “The best you can ever hope for with me is to become numb and desensitized. You’ll have to shut off parts of yourself.” It takes every ounce of willpower not to close the distance between us and bury myself balls deep inside her. “You’ll be a ghost again.”
We both will.
“I’m not ready to lose you.”
“Tell me it doesn’t hurt to look at me,” I repeat, punching the wall with my fist. The more she protests, the harder this is.
“Tell me you don’t love me,” she counters.
Jesus. I’m hanging by a thread. One of us has to be the strong one here, and it has to be me.
“I could…if the circumstances were different.” I kiss her tear-stained cheek. “But they’re not.”
They never will be. Not in this lifetime.
I start to pull away, but she catches my wrist. “I still love you despite the circumstances, Damien.”
When an animal is wounded beyond repair, you should do the righteous thing and put it out of its misery. Same principle applies here.
“You know as well as I do, you can love someone with everything you have, and it will never be enough to make them love you back.” I pin her with a look of disgust. “I thought you learned that lesson already. Do yourself a favor and stop making the same mistake.”
She lifts her chin. “Right.”
“I have to handle the shitstorm upstairs, but you’re welcome to spend the night.” I start walking down the hall. “Geoffrey will drive you to the airport tomorrow.”
Her expression turns to stone so fast it’s almost jarring. “Thanks.” She gestures to my office. “I’m go
I start to object, but my phone rings. “I know, Geoffrey. I’m coming.”
With a grunt, I walk out the door and up the stairs. It’s not like Cain can get to Eden the way I left him.