Page 7 of A Promise For Tomorrow

Except, there, underneath the cage of ribs, sits a blue and black butterfly.

I grab her hand and hold it over my heart. “The only cage you belong in,Mariposita, is the one right here beneath my ribs. You are the other half of my soul and the organ that’s been missing all my life. A beacon of light breaking through my darkness. The gentle and delicate beauty that compliments my twisted nature. You, sweet girl, have given me the freedom I never knew I would have. No longer am I a prisoner to my lineof work, to my father or my uncle, or their followers. You broke the chains of my dark reputation and encouraged understanding and compassion to the people under my syndicate’s protection.”

Two lone tears roll down the apples of her pink cheeks. I swipe them away with my thumbs and cup her face, tilting it to greet her glossy eyes.

“I love you, Madison De La Cruz. I was wrong for not telling you about my fake death. I did it for you. For us. But I was an idiot. You can handle anything, and although I knew that, I still tried to shield you from any repercussions of my past. Of who I am. That is a regret I'll have for the rest of my life. Because it took you from me and ended up pushing you right back into Liam’s arms.”

“Diego…I made my choice…” I stop her, gently placing a finger to her lush lips.

“Regardless of whether you actively chose to stay away from us—we both knew eventually you would come back. Your best friend is marrying his best friend. You were coming back into this life one way or another. Just a lot sooner than you may have anticipated. Which is why I am begging you to give me another chance. Before you hop back on the Liam train. Give me a chance to be your husband. If at the end of the day you choose him, I’ll get our marriage certificate erased from existence too. That tattoo can be a reminder of your resilience and strength,” I sigh, tapping the space behind her ear twice. “A reminder that you are and always will be a queen.”

His words,that breathtaking tattoo, the sincerity in his eyes. Even the way he kissed me…As if the world was ending and there was no tomorrow.

It has me questioningeverything.

Every word I ever told myself about why I left. All the reasons I couldn’t possibly forgive him. And not only leaving him but completely cutting Liam and Killian off as well. I didn’t like who I was becoming, but look at me now. Afraid of a damn scorpion when I have faced death in the face one too many times. There is no question that I was stronger around them. Even with all the looming threats.

Simplicity and naivety is what I longed for. But other than working my shift at the local coffee shop, taking my frustrations out at the gym, or enjoying a night out with my favorite neighbors, it felt all so lonely and mundane.

And that felt more like a cage than ever being around Diego or the Kennedys.

It started to become clear that what I was craving might have been a bit more wild and a little less traditional.

I didn’t want a lazy river.

I wanted the whole damn ocean, chaotic and unpredictable.

Thanks to Lexi, I was able to figure my shit out while living with her—well,sort of. God totally granted me an extra sister when we became friends.That’s for damn sure.

Last year, the night of the New Year’s Eve gala, she didn’t even bat an eye when I told her I needed an escape plan. She simply handed me her keys and told me to stay for as long as I wanted.

It was fucking amazing the first few months. We got to spend time catching up and having girl nights. We went out drinking with Simon and John, coming home drunk off our asses and eating all our favorite snack combinations while watching trash reality TV. Our Thursdays always consisted of homemade pizza, wine, andThe Vampire Diaries.

Carefree, genuine, fun.

Over time, those nights became less and less frequent. Her studies and clinicals for PA school started getting more intense, which occupied a lot of her time. If she had a spare minute, she was either at the gym or seeing Conor. Which I totally understood. He’s an amazing guy and truly makes her happy, always trying his best to make his way out to her every few weeks. Usually staying for the weekend.

Lexi and Conor swore they would keep my whereabouts and activity to themselves, not sharing it with Liam or Killian. I was the one who couldn’t keep Con in that position. He is viciously loyal to the Kennedy brothers, especially Liam. It wouldn’t be fair for him to lie for me.

About a month or so later, on a drunken emotional night of sitting around the coffee table drinking tequila, I told him it would be alright if he let Liam know where I was.

He obviously did.

Yet, I must give props to Liam—he respected my wishes and never once reached out. Never sent me anything. Maybe it’s due to the fact he gets tidbits of information from Conor.

Lexi’s man may claim he isn’t my bodyguard any longer, butthere is a silent understanding between us. He most definitely relays my day to day back to Liam—at least while he’s here. As much as that’s frustrating, at the very least it's comforting, knowing Con would never let any harm come my way while he’s around.

Conor, trying to gain back a level of trust and respect, recently let me in on a little information. Information I would have been better off not hearing at all.

Christmas Day to be specific.

I had stayed in Arizona, not ready to see my family and have to finally discuss my ridiculous life.

As far as they knew, Killian and I spent some time in Greece before traveling more of Europe. We both realized we weren’t as compatible as we had once thought and ended things on New Year’s Eve. Lexi offered me a place to live and I decided a fresh start was in order.

Mom is under the impression I accepted a nursing job there—little does she know I am a barista at the local coffee shop.

I actually prefer it that way.

---