Page 123 of Ink Deep Devotion

I love you, my son. You’re the greatest gift of all, and I’d die for you a million times over.

I wish I could have told you that as you grew, but I knew if I did, then you would have fought for me. You’d never allow me to give up my spot for you. You would have ridden into battle alongside me. We both would have died, son. I couldn’t allow that to happen; none of your uncles could have, so we made sure you hated us because that was the only way you’d let us die.

My time is up, Dash. I didn’t love every minute of it. The only memories I hold dear are you and your mother. Having your mother’s love made me the happiest man in the world, but you, my son, seeing you grow made me the proudest man.

I hope you will forgive me one day. In the end, I did it all for you, and I would gladly take the bullet again.

Burn this; erase it from your mind!

Tell no one! Not even your cousins.

Consequences spread, so stop the sickness. Let my words heal, not destroy you boys.

Get rid of this and the memory of a dying man’s confessions. It will all make sense. A terrible truth will come forth soon.

He fucking knew that bullet was for him, even though it didn’t have his name on it, he knew he was going to take it in order to save his brother and me!

The villain is not supposed to be the martyr! That's not how this story is supposed to go!

I don’t move from his desk. The sun slowly inches out of the office, replaced by the eerie glow of the moonlight.

This letter is a delusion. Maybe it’s a trick to drive me insane. Why would he warn me but beg me to keep my lips sealed?

Titan bears the burden of what?

I read the letter one more time before I grab a match and watch it burn. I don’t know what to believe. The world feels like it’s shaking.

I know what I need to do.

I need to hide Mila, keep her safe, keep them all safe, and find out what the letter is referring to.

Chapter 42

Mila

“This is a bad idea.”

“That’s how the best adventures start.” Nova gleams, her grey eyes lighting up like icicles under a full moon.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” I look back at my father’s guards, who are more excited about the sight ahead than watching me. Before they know it, Nova and I slip far away, the crowd disguising us from their view.

“You’re easily manipulated.” Nova shrugs.She means that as an insult. I know it’s true. Nova plants seeds all the time, watering them, trying to make me grow.

It had been weeks since Dash shoved that small jewelry box into my chest, and then he vanished from school in his typical fashion. I didn’t know if he’d be gone for days or years. Then Nova heard that the Kings were back in town and had been fighting at Damnation, their stupid fight club. So here we are, pushing through the crowd to get closer to the cage. Nova has a thirst for sweaty men, breaking rules, and, of course, Titan. I know she misses him, but she’ll never admit it.

A shoulder shoves into us, almost making Nova and me fall like dominos, but Nova’s sturdy combat boots steady her. I reach out and grab at her sleeve and edge closer to her as she shoves the cheering man away.

Nova grimaces at the man’s sweat now on her hands as she grabs a bottle of hand sanitizer and pours out the entire container onto her hands.

I still can’t crack her. She’s strong and confident to the point of self-destruction, but then she has these moments where her eyes turn vacant as if a ghost is grabbing hold of her memories, trying to make her do the right thing. Nova wins in the end. Whatever good conscience she has, she ignores, like tonight when she dragged me to this club.

“Are you sure we should be here? I don’t see many girls.” I wrinkle my nose at the nasty smell of male sweat and body fluids.

“Mila,” Nova exhales as she flips her long black hair off her shoulders,“doesn’t it turn you on to see men fight?”

“Not really. I’m more worried about them getting hurt.” I’ve seen death too many times now. This reminds me of The Cleansing, only worse. The men tonight chose to fight.

Dash chose to do this. No one was forcing him. He could have come to my room and slept on the floor; he could have come to my waiting arms. He picked this over my love.

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