Page 128

“Sorry, I was just thinking about my mom and dad.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks.
Thank fucking God for waterproof mascara.
“Understandable, but they don’t want you crying, so cut it out. Besides, we need pictures. And you can’t look hot in pictures if you’re all snotty and teary.” Addy walks up and pulls me from the guys and hugs me. “You deserve all the happiness, so be happy, feel the love and soak it all up.”
I sniffle. “Thank you, babe.”
“Now, can we get some pictures of you and your hot-as-fuck men? I mean, they came looking smokin’ hot to this graduation.” Addy winks at me.
We spend the next hour taking pictures, serious and silly ones, all in front of the event center. I take some with Caden and Addy, and we even find someone to snap one giant group photo for us.
We eventually find ourselves out to eat where we laugh at jokes and tell stories of our time at Groveton. After a couple drinks and some very expensive sushi, the guys take me back home.
And for a moment, I don’t know what to do.
When I walk in the door, I stand there in the entryway and let out a sigh. We bought ourselves a nice little house in Northwest Las Vegas. It’s in a small gated community and has a giant backyard, which is rare in Las Vegas.
Inside the open floor plan lets me see into the living room and kitchen. Dark grey tile stretches across the entire downstairs and colorful rugs brighten up the floor under the kitchen table and by the couch.
“Princess? What’s wrong?” Xayden walks over to me from where he was standing in the living room.
“I-I don’t know. What do I do?”
“What do you mean?” Xayden says softly as he runs his hands up and down my arms.
For a moment, I just stand there silently, trying to find my words. “What do I do now? Everything I have done has led up to this day, this point in time. I never thought about what happens after.”
“You live.” Seven steps next to Xayden. “You do what you love. You smile. You laugh. You live in the moment.”
“I don’t know how to. This is the very moment my life has always been about. How do I get past it?”
“I think you need closure, Angel,” Dekker suggests.
“How?” I turn to look at him and watch him nod to one of the other guys. I follow his eyes and see Seven reaching in his pocket.
“I think maybe start with this.” Seven places the letter in my hand. “Maybe this will have some answers or give you what you need to move forward.”
“We will be upstairs. Just call out if you need us, Princess.” Xayden leans in and kisses me softly as Dekker kisses the top of my head. Seven squeezes my wrist and gives me a soft smile.
I watch as the three of them head off up the stairs as I stand there in the entryway. Peering down at the letter in my hand, it feels heavy. I have so many questions. Questions no one has ever been able to answer.
But maybe this has those answers.
My feet slowly make their way over to the couch, and I sit down and continue to stare at the letter. I take a deep breath and open the envelope.
With trepidation, I pull out the folded pieces of paper, slowly unraveling them. Preparing myself for the words I will find on them.
And then I let my eyes read what’s within.
My Dearest Rory,
My beautiful baby girl, I love you more than any words on this page could describe. You are my whole world. Rory, I am so sorry.
You are reading this letter because I failed to keep you safe.
I always thought my biggest regret would be that we left witness protection, but it turns out my biggest regret was letting myself feel safe enough to try to live. Letting my heart fall for a man again, after your father.
Because I never would have imagined he was the man he became.