Page 75 of Bound by Passion (Ravage MC)

Inside, mine was wrapped in barbed wire that was squeezing it so tight it bled. It would never be the same again.

Waking, I could feel Raid was not in bed with me. There was a smell of food coming down the hall, making my stomach grumble.

Rolling out of bed, I went to the bathroom and did my business, then threw on some clothes.

My nose followed the smell of bacon. I swear that was the best smell ever. Except for Raid, that was.

Turning into the kitchen, Raid was at the stove and had three pans going. They were the only ones I had.

With him bare chested, I took a moment to admire him and soak him into my memory. The way his arms moved as he stirred one of the pans.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said with a smile.

My heart swelled and broke. This would never be mine. I’d never wake up again to this man making me breakfast with no shirt on. I’d never have a night of amazing soul-touching sex with another man again. I’d make it a point to never ride on the back of another bike, only allowing the memory of riding on the back of Raid’s bike to remain.

I’d never have the life Raid painted out for me.

Even if all of this worked. If I could take all their money and take them off the planet, I could never come back here. As soon as I left, he’d never want anything to do with me again.

Because I was going to hurt him.

The way he said he felt about me. The life he had pictured for us. How he saw “us.”

When I left without a word, he’d never want me back. And I could never come back.

Once again vanishing into the night.

By the time it was all over, I might not even be alive. Was it better to hurt someone by leaving or death? I didn’t want to answer that question.

I knew what I had to do.

“Morning. Smells great. Thank you,” I told him, hoping my voice didn’t crack. “l’ll be back in a sec.”

“Food’ll be ready by then.”

I smiled. A second?? Meant it was ready now.

Moving into the living room, I picked up my phone and opened the text thread with Screech.

Turning my head to the wall Raid was behind, I felt empty inside. Back to the woman who survived and had no connections there. Cold. I had to be or I’d never get through this.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered then typed in the text thread,do it.Then I turned my phone off and tossed it next to me.

“Did you say something?” Raid came out holding two plates that had steam rolling off of them. It smelled delicious, but if I ate, I would puke.

He was such a great guy, and one day he’d find someone he could spend his life with. It crushed me that it would never be me.

Everything inside of me shattered. I really did love him. I felt it everywhere. The idea of the loss of him was too great to bare.

I hated my life.

Hated what had been thrown at my feet.

How much could a woman take? I was at my limit.

Raid handed me the plate, and my stomach rolled. No, I couldn’t eat.

“Are you okay, Nyx? You seem off.”

---