Page 77 of Owen (Storm Enterprises)

Her lip curls. “Hurt is having the man who took my virginity walk out the door and down the stairs to announce his engagement on my birthday.”

The tension in the room thickens.

“What did you just say?” Tate’s head snaps up, and he steps forward, but she ignores his outburst.

“Hurt is watching your husband slaughtered in front of you while you beg for mercy. Hurt is knowing you’d rather hurt me than come clean to my brother. Hurt is learning my mom helped push away the man I love. Learning that the man I love, my husband, my baby’s protector, caused all of that. It is more than hurt, Owen. It’s destruction.” She rests her hand on her heart. “You hurt me far more than Carlos ever could, because you owned my heart, and you knew it. You destroyed me, you’ve destroyed us, and I never want to see you again.” Her eyes blaze with fire. “You’re the one who’s dead to me.”

She turns to walk toward the door. “Laya, I can’t do this without you.” I rush past her to block her exit. “You’re it for me, baby. You’re my everything,” I whisper through blurred vision as my arms block the only way out of the room.

“Let her go, man,” Mase whispers beside me, but I shake my head in denial.

“I can’t.” Why can’t he see? Why can’t they all see? All I ever wanted was her. “She’s my everything.”

He takes my face in the palms of his hands, and our eyes lock. “You’re going to step away from the door and let her leave the room.” I move my lips to argue, but he speaks firmer than before. “You’re going to do that because it’s the right thing to do for her right now. Then you’re going to leave with me and let her have a bit of space.”

“I don’t want to sleep without her in my arms,” I mutter, needing him to know the fear I have at not being able to hold her at night when I’ve waited so long for that. Not being able to bring her the comfort she brings me.

His eyes flash with sympathy. “Just tonight, brother,” he says, but swallows hard, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he’s lying and only telling me what I want to hear.

My legs give way with defeat, and I drop to the floor with a heavy thud. Holding the back of my neck with both hands, I pull my head between my legs as uncontrollable sobs strike me, knowing I could have had it all, and now I have nothing. My fingers tangle with the bracelet on my wrist, a stark reminder of her.

“Please,” I cry, hoping she gifts me with mercy.

I’m nothing without them.

THIRTY-SEVEN

LAYA

“You need to get out. Get some fresh air.” I cast my gaze over to Ava, then my eyes track down to her swollen stomach. Her future.

Jealousy grips me, and my hands tighten on my mug as I reply in the same monotone voice I’ve had for the past few days since Owen’s sobs filled the house before Tate and Mase finally encouraged him to give me space.

“Not today.”

She strokes over her bump, and I turn away.

“Laya, come on. I’m sure Romeo would love to go for a walk. Right, buddy.” My son gurgles back in her direction and, as always, I react with a smile. His hair is spiky, adorably cute as he blows out a bubble toward Ava. “See. Romeo wants to go to the park, don’t you, little man?” She pulls on his socks, and he blows a stream of bubbles back at her, making her laugh.

“Not the park,” I clip back, knowing the memories it holds there for us.

My phone beeps beside me, and I glance at it, knowing it’s more than likely Owen, and I contemplate turning it off completely, but when I see Brynn’s name flash on the screen, I unlock the phone.

Brynn:I’m in your town this weekend. Wanna catch up?

I grimace, knowing what a shitty friend I’ve been.

“Is that him?” Ava wafts her hand toward the phone.

“No.” I clear my throat. “It’s actually my friend Brynn. We went to college together and I haven’t seen her since the night I met Carlos.”

Ava’s eyes widen. “Oh, shit.”

I nod, knowing how much has happened since I last saw her. “She wants to meet up.”

“You should go,” she encourages with a smile.

“I’m not leaving Romeo.”

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