Page 160 of Mystic's Sunrise

Chain stepped forward, eyeing me with that silent question in his stare.

“It’s done,” I said, voice flat. Final.

He didn’t ask for details. None of them did. Just gave me a short nod like that was all that needed saying.

I didn’t stop to talk. Didn’t drink. Didn’t breathe until I was inside the clubhouse and climbing the stairs two at a time. I needed to see her. Needed to seehereyes, not the ones that used to haunt me when I knew I didn’t deserve. I needed the sound of her voice more than the sound of any engine.

My door was half-cracked.

I pushed it open slow.

She was by the window, sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to me. Soft light spilled in, painting her hair gold. She was wearing one of Brenda’s old flannels, sleeves rolled up, collar tugged around her neck like a scarf.

She didn’t look at me, but she knew I was there. I stepped in and shut the door behind me.

Quiet.

She still hadn’t spoken like she was afraid of what the conversation would hold.

“Zeynep.”

She turned at the sound of her name. Her eyes locked on mine. No fear. No question. Just something I now felt I deserved—trust.

I crossed the room.

Didn’t sit.

Didn’t touch her.

I knelt in front of her, reaching into my cut. Pulled out the folded papers and held them up.

“I’m free,” I said. “Took too long. Cost too much. But I’m done with her.”

Her eyes dropped to the papers. She didn’t reach for them. I didn’t expect her to.

“I should’ve told you sooner. Should’ve told you everything. But I didn’t know how, and maybe a part of me didn’t believe I ever could.” I looked down. “When I was with her, I was weak. Didn’t know it. Thought I was doin’ the right thing. Thought I owed her for standin’ by me when I came back from the Marines half a man.” I raised my head again. “But that wasn’t loyalty and when I tried to end our marriage, she basically blackmailed me, and I let her.”

Zeynep’s lips parted slightly like she wanted to speak, but nothing came out.

She didn’t have to.

I reached up—slow—and set the papers down on the edge of the bed beside her. “Those chains? Gone. Only ones I want now are the ones you put on me.”

Her brows pulled together, and for a second, I thought maybe I said too much. Too soon. But then her hand reached out, soft, hesitant, and she touched my face. Fingers brushed the scars like they were nothing. Like I was just…me.

I leaned into her touch. Closed my eyes. Let the pain slip out in a breath I hadn’t realized I was still holding. “I rode away from my past today,” I whispered. “And for the first time in a long goddamn time… I rode home.”

She nodded, just once. Then leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

Soft.

Silent.

But it said everything.

And I knew, I was hers now.

Fully.

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