Page 28 of These Deadly Vows

I couldn’t keep asking her to live like that.

Not even for me.

Letting her go was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Pretending she doesn’t exist is how I cope most days, but then something will happen to remind me of her. I’ll hear her favorite song or see her favorite color and my mind goes straight back to her.

My old man has been working on clearing my name, but for now I’m a fugitive. One of America’s Most Wanted. It’s why I’m here. Hiding out in Chicago under the name Axe. Short for Axel.

“Hello,” Abel croaks on the fifth ring.

“Hey, little brother.”

“Something wrong?”

“Just wanted to hear your voice, fuckhead.”

“Aw, you miss me.” He chuckles and I hear his woman in the background asking who he’s talking to. “Tell her it’s her ex.” I grin.

“Dick. I miss your sorry ass. It’s good to hear your voice.”

“Yeah. Give everyone my love.”

“Will do, brother. Will do. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. You know it is.”

“What’s wrong?”

“How is she?” he knows the drill. I go through this every few months. I get into a dark space in my head where all I can think about is Coralie.

“Same as last time you asked.”

“Right.” I made him promise not to tell me about her, no matter what.

I end the call and let out a sigh.

I shouldn’t have called him. It puts us both at risk.

Fuck. I miss my family. I was able to visit a few years back for Christmas.

There’s no place like home.

No place like Drag Creek.

I stare out at the city, wishing I could trade concrete and sidewalks for winding country roads.

Even if I could go back, it wouldn’t be the same.

A lot has changed.

Too much for my liking.

My brother has his club in Texas. A club that was meant to be mine, but I fucked it all up.

I’m glad it worked out for Abel and Ainsley. As fucked up as it is that she was mine first, I know they belong together. I thought Coralie was going to be that anchor for me. My home no matter where I roam. She was the first girl I ever loved and will probably be the last.

I can’t go back, and I can’t stay here. Not permanently. It’s hard to plant roots on the run.

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