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Choking down the tears that threatened to slip through the cracks in my dams, I gave one last glance around the room. This was supposed to be healing, but instead, I couldn’t bring myself to find out what lay in the second room that hadn’t been here before.

Except, perhaps entering this new space would wipe away the anguish twisting my depraved heart and the longing for a woman I could never call mine again.

I gulped and allowed myself to cross the floor. My boots tapped heavily against the bare boards, seeing no need to muffle my steps. Despite the room being larger, a few strides carried me quickly to the doorway opening into the next room.

Stepping over the threshold, knuckles cracked against my jaw. Stars danced in my vision as I whipped to my right, adrenaline focusing my senses. Another fist barreled toward me, and I parried it out of the way. Catching the wrist of my attacker, I pulled it across my body, spinning them around and jerking my assailant back against my chest. As I wrapped my arm around the throat of my attacker, a familiar smell of cinnamon and clove danced up my nose.

Colette?

I snaked another hand around her stomach, pressing her frame tighter into my body. She squirmed and grunted, throwing her free fist backward toward me. I collected both wrists into one hand, keeping my forearm pressed against her windpipe.

“Let. Go,” she snapped, attempting to jerk away from me. Warmth spread up my spine. Disbelief swirling low in my belly as I tucked my nose against her neck. Her coily, fiery red hair tickled my skin as she continued to fight against my hold.

“You fucker! You’re trespassing,” she snarled, her voice low and intimidating.

Everything in my body soared high like a June bug on a summer night. I couldn’t believe it was her. She twisted her left hand, her skin wringing tightly against mine, burning slightly.

I carefully opened my fingers, releasing her one hand. “Hi, Cher,” I whispered into her ear.

Her body stiffened immediately within my embrace.

“F-Ford?” she stammered.

“Still got a mean right hook,” I replied, relaxing my hold a little more. She remained still, and the heat from her skin against my arm sent goosebumps sailing across my body. I heard and felt every breath she inhaled against my arm. The room spun around us, yet neither of us moved.

She was here. I was touching her. Fifteen years, and the feel of her against me was just as visceral as the first time she’d let me brush wisps of hair behind her ear. For the first time in years, I felt…free. I’d known then that what I felt had been a once-in-a-lifetime love.

But not one meant to be.

Now, as she remained within my embrace, breathing hard, I dared to wish upon any spider lily I could find that she’d be mine. That this time, fate wouldn’t rip us apart.

And an agonizing pain flared up my left leg as if fire and ice had exploded in my muscle. I released Colette with a grunt and glanced down at the blade sending shockwaves up my thigh.

“You fucking fucker. You piece of shit asshole,” she sneered at me. Her palm sang against my cheek. The slap clacked my teeth together as I finally locked onto a gaze I’d only seen recently in my memories.

She blew out heavily, sending a coil of red hair away from her forehead, spun on her heels, and marched out of the small kitchen. I watched her leave in a trail of anger, frustration, and shock as the front door slammed shut.

Despite the sharp waves of pain shooting from the knife she’d left in my quad and the heat radiating from my cheekbone, I couldn’t help but smile.

Damn, Ireallymissed her.

Chapter 2

FORD

Blood seeped around the knife as I hobbled from the kitchen and over to one of the oak chairs. I’d been stabbed before, and the burning sensation wasn’t new, but being stabbed byherwith a small knife I’d made her before I’d left was new.

My feelings for her had never dwindled, but now those faint embers burst into flames of obsession. Even though I knew it was wrong, I would not be leaving without her. Even though I knew it was impossible, she would somehow be mine. Fuck the feud between our families. Fuck whatever reasoning I had justified for leaving the first time. Fuck any other man that might stand in my way. Fuck the kid I was when I left. Fuck who she once knew me as. This time, she was going to have to pick.

And I’d be damned if she didn’t pick me.

The new me.

I’d stayed away long enough out of respect for what I’d seen, the one and only time I’d returned, but no longer.

Stretching my leg out, I studied the forest-green hilt protruding from my thigh. If I pulled it and it had punctured an artery, I’d bleed out unless I could find something to apply pressure long enough to make my way to a hospital. However, where she’d plunged it, and seeing as the blade was only two or so inches long, I doubted it had hit anything vital.

As I gripped the hilt, the door to this hideaway hut flew open with a clang. Glancing to my right, a short figure filled the frame. Her red curls, backlit by the sun, danced like a fire around her head, as if they were beautiful flames, highlighting a face that had existed only in my dreams.