28. Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Eight
Vic
S itting with my feet dangling above the dark water, I’m consumed by the eerie stillness of the night, intensifying my somber state of mind. The night sky is empty, lacking even a single star, as if they, too, decided to stay hidden tonight.
The decision I made to let Rosie go brings me a conflicting mix of unease and tranquility. Contrary to popular belief, the experience of being selfless does not live up to the hype and is not as fulfilling as people make it out to be.
It fucking hurts, and the pain will most likely never subside.
But I will endure the pain, imagining the breathtaking smile on her face as she reads my final letter. I hope it clips the final string, granting her the freedom to soar with no limitations.
When she ran, I told myself I would do anything to have her back. It was selfish. I was selfish.
Life is a series of choices, and she should have the freedom to make her own .
Rosie is a vibrant force that transcends the words we exchanged. No matter how vivid my dreams and imagination are, they’ll never compare to her in person.
I wonder if I’ll ever see her again. Maybe down the line at Gage’s house, with kids, or worse, another man. The thought makes the hole in my chest ache.
The unmistakable creak of the dock catches my attention, and I freeze while my stomach flips. Even without her voice, I can spot her from a mile away. Why is she here?
“Thought you’d be halfway to California by now,” I say as I attempt to keep my voice even.
My heart beats out of my chest as I hear her steps creak across the dock.
“Why? Why would you do this?”
Okay, not what I was expecting.
“Come sit.” I tap the spot next to me. “I told you I’d do anything to help you.”
“By giving your freedom away for mine?”
“Yes.”
“Take it back,” she says as her voice cracks.
I grab her small hand and look into her sad eyes. “I can’t, and I won’t.”
A notch forms between her eyebrows, and I hold myself back from running my thumb across it to smooth it out. “What about the guys? Won’t you miss them?”
“They were part of the deal, too.”
“Why would they do that?”
“We’re family. It’s what we do,” I say with a shrug.
The guys were ecstatic to have a connection to Gage. Rosie’s father’s actions caused significant financial damage to the club, leaving a substantial void. This agreement to work for Gage signifies greater financial resources, influence, and safety.
“This is insane. I can’t let you guys do this. I’m going to find a way to get you all out of this.”
I shake my head at her. “Our letters became a lifeline during my most challenging years, granting me the freedom and comfort I desperately needed. Let me give you the thing you want most. Now you can make more firsts, and most importantly, you can be you. You can be free.”
“What if I don’t want that anymore?” she says with tears in her eyes.
“What do you want?” I ask, confused.
“You.” Rosie grabs my shirt, dragging my face close to hers. “I want you. I love you, Vic.”
Her words bounce around in my head.
She came back.
She didn’t leave me.
She loves me.
“I love you so fucking much.”
My lips crash down on hers with more force than necessary, but I can’t help myself.
I need her.
All of her.
As I pull her onto my lap, she lets out a surprised gasp, her eyes widening. I gaze up at her figure silhouetted against the night sky. Her bright green eyes, sparkling with excitement, light up her face as a small smile appears on her lips. I can’t help but reach out and softly stroke her cheek. Her eyes flutter shut as if my touch is a cure. When really, hers is mine.
“Say it again,” I whisper .
“I love you.”
The feeling of weightless euphoria fills me like no drug could.
She is my drug.
She is my antidote.
She is my everything.
“Say my name,” I say, wanting to hear her call me by my first name.
“I love you, Rush.”