Page 51 of Dirty Hearts

“I’m so sorry… God, that’s awful. Come, let me take care of you.” She nodded, and there was that look again, but I ignored it.

It was stupid. I was stupid. My heart always soared when I saw Ava; that was how I could tell the twins apart.

That and their eyes. There was a light in Ava’s eyes that brightened, giving me access to her soul.

Right now, I couldn’t feel my heart, and I couldn’t see the light. But it was stupid. She came back to me, and I should be happy. Instead, I was wasted, too drunk to enjoy the second chance my girl had given me.

I stood up and pulled her into my arms. “I love you. I love you, and I’m never letting you leave like that ever again.” I’d never said those words to anyone, and she was long overdue to hear them from me.

“I love you too.” She kissed the edge of my chin.

In in the morning, when I’d sobered up, I’d propose. I meant it. I loved her and I was going to change things up.

* * *

One month later…

I still felt wrecked.

I felt like I really had gone to hell and actually hadn’t quite made it back.

I was at the bar again, not drinking as heavily as I had that night, having sworn never to get drunk again.

The happiness I’d experienced that night thinking that Ava had returned was all a glimmer because it wasn’t Ava.

Ava hadn’t come back to me.

The person I’d spoken to that night, the person I’d confessed my undying love to and taken home to my house to make love to was not Ava.

It was Marissa.

Every time I thought about it, I felt physically sick.

“Hey, look.” Luc tapped my hand and glanced over my shoulder, frowning.

We’d just got here after a job.

I glanced behind me and frowned too, understanding why Luc looked the way he did.

He’d seen Marissa. He was the only person I’d told what happened.

She was walking down the stairs and clocked on to me the minute I looked around. And she was coming over.

I hated any kind of violence against women, would kill a man who dared lay a hand on his woman to hurt her, but that damn day when I’d woken up and found I’d slept with her, I nearly lost it. It would have been provocation at its fullest and finest.

“God, why?” I hissed under my breath. Earlier, the maid said she’d been by. I couldn’t begin to think of what she wanted.

The morning after we’d slept together, in my state of horror, she’d laughed in my face in that vindictive way and told me she knew she could find a way to own me if she wanted.

Bitch. That was the last time I saw her.

I watched her as she waltzed on up to me. The first thing I noticed was that that sass and confidence were missing. She seemed off, and quite unlike her usual self.

“I went to your house today and left my number. Why didn’t you call? I told the maid it was urgent.” She balled her fists and looked at me with those piercing eyes.

I was such an idiot. The eyes. The cock and bull I’d thought was cock and bull was far from it.

It was my gut instincts screaming at me that night. Warning me away from the evil siren. That sick, vile feeling stirred in my soul again just looking at her.