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My heart drops. The camera moves from her to the shop and I get to see the damage in daylight.

Jesus. The windows are completely gone. Dirt and glass are everywhere on the inside.

“We’ll update you on the story with the news at six.” The TV goes to commercial and I look down at my coffee. A tear falls and I cover my mouth as I try to contain it.

“Hey,” Mae says. “Give me that cup.” She grabs the cup, pouring a splash of whiskey in it, then she slides it back to me.

“Thank you,” I say, wiping my eyes behind the sunglasses.

“No problem. You need some food. Want me to order some?”

“I can’t eat,” I say, taking a sip of the coffee.

She nods in understanding.

I grab my phone from my back pocket. I unlock the screen and see a text.

Didn’t want to wake you. The boys and I had to go out. Don’t leave the bar. If you need anything, Mae will get it.

I exhale and drop the phone. Great, I’m stuck here. This is why I got away from the south side. But it didn’t matter. The bad found me, and it took Samuel. It ruined Billie’s shop and it has me hiding in a bar. I rub my forehead, then bring my drink to my lips, wondering what the hell to do.

Mae walks up to me. “Want me to turn this crap off?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Won’t change anything.”

She nods, wiping the bar, and I can tell she’s thinking something.

I’ve never really been around her much, but she’s worked for Danny for a long time now. My mind is a stupid thing and it goes to places that are so unimportant.

But I can’t help it.

Have they slept together?

Does he care about her?

“He still loves you, you know,” she says.

I don’t respond, completely thrown off.

She smiles, but it’s laced with hurt. “Sometimes when he sits here, I can just tell he’s thinking about you, wondering what you’re doing, if you’re happy.” She shrugs. “I’m here. Every day, every night,” she emphasizes the last words. I feel my eye twitch. “And all he cares about is you.”

I don’t look away from her, glad I have the shades on. This woman is hurting. God, how I know what it feels like to be hurt by Danny.

“And yet you have him,” I say.

She swallows, and her eyes fill with tears. “But do you know what it’s like to be with someone who’d rather be with someone else? Do you know what it’s like to love someone who can only give you a small piece of them? You have all of his memories. His past.”

I think about Samuel, wondering if he had someone to talk to, would he say the same thing as Mae about our marriage?

I lift my chin slightly. “And you have his future.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Bones

One month three days missing

The sun comes up, blanketing us with its warm golden light, filling the cabin with a false sense of hope. Bexley’s speculated this whole time that this was somehow my fault, and now we’ve confirmed it.