Page 31 of Eight Years Gone

“You did the best you could for you. It’s always been about you. Logan’s blood is on your hands, and I will never forgive you!”

She put her bulging bags in the trunk. “Don’t call me. Ever. Don’t talk to me at Logan’s funeral. You’re as dead to me as he is.”

She got in the car and turned over the engine, now floaty with an exhaustion that threatened to swallow her whole. Peeling out of the driveway, she headed to the closest thing she had left to salvation.

Grace blinked when a car honked in the distance, startling her from her memories. Sniffling, she glanced around at the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown, realizing that tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Dashing them away, she shook her head, taking several steadying breaths. Wiping her cheeks dry once more, she peeked in the rearview mirror to make sure she still looked put together.

When all appeared well, she got out, purposely avoiding another look at the dojang.

The past was gone. This was all she needed to worry about now—the present. She never had to go back. Her life was her choice. Only hers. She never had to put herself in a position to feel that type of loss and heartache again.

Eight

Jagger weaved his way through the crowds on the outskirts of town, making his way toward the massive firepit in the center of the field.

He’d walked through this clearing several times before—every year when he, Grace, Logan, and whoever Logan was dating at the time would drive up to Preston Valley for the annual fall bonfire.

He hadn’t planned to come tonight, but Ruby and Todd had convinced him to stop by for a little while.

Figuring it couldn’t hurt to check off another box in the average Joe category, he’d changed out of his shorts and pulled on a pair of jeans.

At the last minute, he’d zipped a light jacket over his T-shirt, then added a ballcap, anticipating the cooling temperatures as the sun faded closer to the horizon in the cloudless blue sky.

He glanced around, listening to the live band covering popular songs from several musical genres, breathing in the scent of the fire and food from the dozens of food trucks lined up on the shortly cut grass. Everything was as it had always been—or sort of.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done anything normal like this. Over the last several years, his life had revolved around covert and clandestine operations.

More often than not, he’d spent his time behind enemy lines. If he’d wandered about at a public event, a Unit or CIA mission had undoubtedly been involved. The objective had always been gathering intelligence and not fucking it up by getting himself captured or killed in the process.

“Excuse me,” he murmured as he bumped into a couple walking by.

Instinct had him looking left. And there was Grace, crouching down with her camera to capture two kids in a red wagon, making a mess as they ate their pink cotton candy.

She laughed when one of the parents said something to her before she snapped another shot.

Damn, she was a beauty.

She’d plunked a black beanie on her head, leaving all that long, glorious blond hair to flow freely. The snug denim and simple black cardigan she’d chosen accentuated everything that was spectacular about Grace.

Then she looked up, and their eyes met. Her smile faded as she stood, but she held up her hand in a quick wave.

Surprised that she’d acknowledged him at all, he waved back. When she started walking his way, he moved in her direction, meeting her halfway.

“Hi,” she said, letting the camera hang around her neck by the strap as she let it go.

“Hey.”

“I didn’t realize you were coming.”

Christ, he could stare into those big blue eyes for days. “It was pretty last minute.”

Her lips curved slightly as she glanced around. “Um, it’s a nice night for this.”

He nodded, hating that things were so awkward between them. Long ago, they would have held hands and walked around together, sampling food and talking about whatever. Eventually, they would have snuggled up on a blanket and enjoyed the fire. “It is.”

“I haven’t seen you since… It’s been a few days,” she quickly corrected herself.

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