Widow
Sixty-Five
Rory stepped into my office with her arms wrapped around her front.
She was in one of Cinder’s old band T-shirts that she DIYed, and it hung off her shoulders.
Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were still red from her hours of crying.
I let everything Cinder told me fly out the window recently because Rory needed me.
Rory had Vesper, and to my dismay, she had Hades, too.
I pulled her into my arms and she sank into me.
She found comfort in me, and that made me crack.
I knew I needed to listen to everything that Cinder said because I would hurt Rory.
Hurting her once was already painful, and I couldn’t live with myself if I did it again.
I was toxic, destroying everything I touched.
Rory would slowly decay with my venomous touch.
“I miss her,” she mumbled against my chest. “I want her back.”
“I know, phoenix. I miss her too.” There was a sliver of hope that she was still alive. This sadist wanted revenge, and he was getting that while hurting Rory.
She pulled back and wiped her eyes. “I’m going with Hades to Crestview.”
My back stiffened. I knew she wouldn’t listen to my protests because she was dating Haven. “Rory…”
She shook her head. “I already know what you are going to say. I am going with her. She’ll keep me safe, and if you forgot, I got trained by all three of you.
I’m not defenseless and I need to get away.
” I could see how close she was to breaking down.
Rory wore a shield of glass, and it was shattering.
As much as I hated it, I couldn’t stop her. She would go. I wished she would take one of my pistols with her. She had her switchblade and brass knuckles, but if someone had a gun against her, she would lose.
“And how is she going to protect you?”
“She lives in Crestview, and her dad is Axel.” I already knew how she would protect her, but I wanted her to stay regardless. “We’ll be at her house. I’m going to meet her friend at a cafe and we might go to the beach, but I won’t go anywhere dangerous.”
“Are you going to meet Axel?” I asked, my voice heavy with concern.
“Maybe if she wants me to, but it’s not high on my priority list. I need a break, Widow.” Her voice caught on my name, and I felt my heart break just a little more.
I watched as they left, my body coiling with tension.
Ever since I learned about Haven fucking Morningstar, I’d been paranoid that Rory would get hurt.
I hated the thought of them together, of Rory loving a Devil.
Hades would hurt her, and I would have to break Rory’s heart again when I put a bullet in Hades’s skull.
The way my phoenix looked at her, how quickly she fell for her, it made my blood boil.
She wasn’t mine, and even if she was, I couldn’t control her feelings.
I hated the connection and fire I saw between them.
I wanted to scream, but she wouldn’t listen and I wouldn’t hold her back.
She looked…happy. And I took that look away from her once.
I couldn’t do it again when I broke her once.
The pain in her eyes when I broke her heart was a guilt I would never get rid of.
Two days.
I had the best night of my life with the woman I loved, and now, I had to break her heart.
Rory knew something was wrong, but I avoided her.
I saw the pain on her face, but I needed to gather my composure and paint on my game face.
This would be the hardest thing I ever did, but I needed to make sure Rory had her sister.
And if Cinder killed me, her heart would shatter even more.
“Widow.” She chased me outside and stopped me.
The scene shouldn’t look this beautiful with her breathtaking smile and a burnt-orange sky.
My chest felt tight as she grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her.
“You haven’t talked to me since that night.
Are you okay?” I shouldn’t be seeing her naked body curled into me, her lips on my collarbone or those words…
I never felt this way before…safe. I made her feel safe and now I had to break her heart.
“Go away, Rory.” I felt my own heart fracture as I pulled my hand away from her.
“Widow?” Her voice cracked just like my foundation. “Stop and look at me.” I looked at her with disdain, hoping it masked the hurt flowing through me. “Widow, don’t look at me like that. What’s wrong?”
I laughed bitterly. “You’re acting like a lovesick puppy, Rory.”
Her eyes were glassy as her lip trembled. “Widow…you. Please don’t make me feel stupid.” Her voice was low, broken. “You said you loved me.”
“But I don’t,” I deadpan. “I needed you to believe the lies.”
She shook her head, tears spilling from her gorgeous ocean hues. “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend that it didn’t mean anything to you. The way you…we. I know it meant something to you.”
“No it didn’t, Rory. You were easy pussy and I got what I wanted. I don’t love you. I couldn’t love someone like you.” And that was the final nail in the coffin before the dam broke and she sobbed. “Stop crying. It happened. We had sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
She wiped her eyes angrily. “We didn’t just have sex, Widow.
We made love. You kissed my body like I was a treasure you discovered.
The promises you whispered against my skin will stay imprinted just like my scars.
You made me feel like I was worth everything.
” Because you are, phoenix. “Don’t lie to me. ”
“I used you Rory. I wanted pussy, and you served yours on a silver platter.”
Rory looked at me like I stabbed her in the chest, and I did. I just broke her heart. “You said you loved me.”
“I don’t love anyone.” And then she turned and ran, her sobs breaking every ounce of strength I had left.
I watched her, my breath caught in my throat as my own tears burned.
My eyes flickered to the window where Cinder stood there, watching me.
I never thought about leaving the Vipers until now, but this was my family.
And even if I hurt Rory, I needed to be here for her, too.
One day she would forgive me.