Page 90 of Tangled in Vows

It opens up something inside me, allowing my emotions to escape.

The disbelief over what my life has turned into—the pain of having Holden back in my life after so much uncertainty and anger. To finally learn the truth, one that’s painful to accept but strangely also offers relief.

Will I finally be able to close that past chapter of my life that was constantly in the back of my mind, no matter how much time passed or how much my life changed?

Holden told me Felix was dead, but a small part in the back of my brain was constantly worried that maybe he wasn’t.

But he’s really gone. Never to return.

A deep calm unfurls within me, a weight lifting off my chest I wasn’t aware of, followed by a soft warmth bubbling in my stomach.

I shouldn’t feel like this. I shouldn’t feel this good over someone’s death.

A strange whimpering noise escapes my throat as a hand gently touches my back.

I start, and the touch disappears.

Something hits the ground in front of me with a loud thud.

Holden is on his knees. “Tell me what to do, Hurricane. Please.”

The words tear out of his throat, rough and jagged, his plea ending in a strained gasp.

He held on to this for all those years.

I have so many questions, because why didn’t he tell me? Why did I never hear about Felix’s death or Holden’s arrest? Why did the police never question me?

Remember, you couldn’t find any information about him online either, and you searched for weeks.

Archer’s name reverberates through my head. He must have erased all online traces of Holden back then. So much work.

But that’s for later. Right now, nothing is as potent as the urge to comfort Holden. My hands are itching with the need to touch him. To console him and reassure him.

I take in his slumped shoulders and hanging head.

The sight only intensifies the heavy ache behind my ribs.

My throat tightens with words that don’t want to form, so I let my body do the talking for now.

I lift my shaking hand and brush it over his hair. Raking my fingernails through his soft strands and across his scalp. I continue, and he closes his eyes almost reverently, like he can’t believe I’m touching him.

This man.

I follow the invisible string in my chest that pulls me toward Holden and drop to the ground before him.

He starts as if a bolt of electricity shocked him, his head shooting up as he stares at me with wide eyes.

I swallow hard against the lump of emotion pressing against my voice and ask the question we both need answered, “What happened with Felix?”

Chapter 28

Holden

Day 1021 without you: Why does doing the right thing have the power to destroy you in the process too?

ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO

Tom’s car screeches to a halt next to the sidewalk, and the man I’ve always considered the closest thing to a father figure sighs heavily.

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