Page 125 of A Stop in Time
My pathetic excuse for humor has my breath hitching on a choked sob. I hurriedly clear my throat, backing away from him with a forced smile that’s brittle as hell. “Or a salvage yard.”
I meet his vacant eyes, and my knees threaten to knock against one another. “You came here to find and kill Emilia’s murderer. And I deserve to die after all I’ve done.” Tears sting at my eyes, and I blink against them. “I know you need to avenge her death, but I have to finish this first.” Retreating further from him, I hope he detects the determination in my words. “I’ll end this. I’ll make this right.”
I let my eyes drift over him, savoring one final look at him. I want his face imprinted in my memory so deeply that it can never be erased or hidden.
As I turn to go, the barely audible whispered admission rushes out. “I love you.”
Blanketed only by thick silence, my legs carry me away in quick strides. My vision goes blurry from the tears filling my eyes, but I continue on my way through the gate.
It isn’t until my boots hit the shitty excuse for a paved road that it happens. For the first time that I can remember, I cry.
Every subsequent step I take, each more rapid than the previous one, the tears slip down my cheeks. My heart feels as though it’s been severed in half, bleeding from within my chest.
I grieve for all the unfathomable things I’ve done. For all the lives I’ve extinguished.
With angry swipes at the tears continuing to rain down my cheeks, I ignore the curious glances and climb the steps onto the bus. I slump into a window seat, and the silent tears continue, showing no signs of stopping.
Each teardrop adds to the mountain of regret as I mourn the life I was robbed of living.
As the bus carries me to my final destination, I cry for the man who did the unthinkable.
The one who made me fall in love with him.
57
DANIEL
I stand rooted to the spot, staring down the driveway where Mac disappeared.
Anger and resentment have my muscles twisted in a vicious knot, and I grip the back of my neck in a shitty attempt at easing it.
What the fuck just happened? My ribs ache, like they’ve cracked open, exposing my heart that’s just been fucking severed in half.
“I’m the one you’ve been searching for. I’m your sister’s killer.”
There’s no telling how long I stand here, staring blindly down the driveway. My boots feel like they’re entrenched in wet cement, stuck in place, while my fingers twitch to reach for my gun and chase her down. It’d not only be easy, but it’d be warranted to take my vengeance out on her.
And she’d let me.
Fuck! I rake a hand through my hair and stalk to my car door. Get in and go after her. Don’t let Emilia’s killer get away.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to stand around and drown in your own pity party.”
My gun’s already in my hand, safety off, and aimed in the direction of the male voice, but no one’s there. Motherfucker.
He materializes, and my finger hovers over the trigger.
“You really think that’s wise?”
“Yeah.” Fury has me biting out the words forcefully. “I think it is.”
He simply stares at me with a stone-faced expression. “She’s going to die for you.”
“What?” A fist of emotion squeezes my heart in a punishing grip, and I lower my weapon to my side. “How do you know that?”
A huff of breath erupts from his mouth, the only indication of his irritation. “She’s walking into a site that few individuals even know exists and planning to kill the doctor in charge.” A brief pause lingers. “And anyone else who took part in hurting her.”
I grind my teeth, because he didn’t answer me. “I said, how do you know that?”