49. Devina
“You can’t tell him,” I sip my coffee as Taylor sits across from me marinating in the new plan I’ve formulated.
He hates it.
But it doesn’t matter. No one says ‘no’ to the dying girl.
“Vi, we can take care of this now. Right fucking now.” He sits back in the chair, kicking his leg over the other, resting his ankle on his opposite knee. “Ryder would fucking do it himself. He told you that.”
“That’s because he doesn’t know who the target is.” I return, eyes shifting around the restaurant. Ryder reluctantly agreed to let me go when Taylor offered to accompany me.
“Maybe you should fucking tell him. Jesus, Vi. We have waited all of this time. You’ll be gone soon…” His voice cracks causing my eyes to instantly water. “I can’t do it without you.”
“I don’t want you to do it without me.” I take another sip of coffee before placing it on the table. Reaching into my purse, I pull out three letters. “When the time comes, it will be Ryder’s decision. I’ve made peace with it. This is my choice.” I say sternly. He knows I’ve had so few and I doubt he’ll deny me this.
I place the letters on the table and slide them across to Taylor. He looks at the pink envelopes with sadness and rage. He’ll hate me for a while, but he’ll love me after. He will always love me.
“And what do I get to choose?” He huffs, looking away. I know his world was forever changed that night. I know he wants Cap dead. But he was never the one who was going to kill him. And because of that, I carry no guilt for not giving him the option now.
“He will make the right choice. And when he does, you get to choose to live.” I smile through my tears as he angrily bats his away.
“Fuck Devina. This is not how it was all supposed to go.” He sighs as he picks the envelopes from the table before scanning through them.
MaryClaire. Declan. Taylor.
I hold a fourth letter in my hand, but I know that it will be given personally.
Before we leave the café, he pulls me in tight as he rests in chin on top of my head.
“God, what am I ever going to do without you?” His chest rattles with sobs.
I look up at him, wiggling my arms up to cup his face in my hands. “Live for both of us.”