Page 126 of Severed Heart

For the near handful of years I’ve been gone, I’ve been trying to forgive both my father and Delphine for the hurt they’ve caused themselves in sorting their lives and how personallyItook it. I no longer regret the son I tried to be or loving Delphine with the whole of my heart and soul—even if she broke it.

So, while it’s liberating, there’s still a lingering soul-deep ache when I allow myself a glimpse at the rearview. Because even if I’ve resigned myself to that way of thinking, and even if it’s serving me well daily, I still feel as if something is missing. Something that still won’t be there when I eventually return to Triple Falls.

And so, I live in time measured by the slow sweep of my eyes, blinking from one day to the next through any aches that arise because of the gnawing that has yet to leave me. All the while keeping my promise, no matter how bad it burns—it never happened.

* * *

Triple Falls Police Department

One Week Later

BLINK.

“Wakey wakey ... eggs and bakey.”

Peter’s eyes bug open from where he lays on the bunk bed as Reggie—who owes me half a dozen more favors—closes the jail cell behind me before pocketing the litter of keys on his ring. When Peter jerks to sit, I manage to pin him to the inch-thick mattress in time to muffle his cry with a firm hand.

“Already breaking rule number one, man. Shhhh,” I whisper as I gauge the look of him—pale, malnourished. Like me, he’s already jaded by life’s cruelly dealt hand at only seventeen.

“Robin Peter Morgan?” I muse. “Seriously? Your parents did you dirty.”

When Peter narrows his eyes at my barb, I can’t help chuckling. There’s a spark of a fighter and an anger inside him that he hasn’t managed to harness yet. One I’m all too familiar with.

“Not to worry, man. Half of our crew uses their middle names in their everyday because their parents cursed them the same way. So, I think I’ll take it as a good sign where you’re concerned.”

Confusion pinches his features as he does what he can to scan the marine dressed in civvies who’s currently confining him to his mattress in a jail cell. Fear wins as he struggles again, and I keep him pinned.

“Ah, ah, calm down, kitten. We don’t have much time. I was owed a favor, and I came to collect. Don’t you want to know why?”

Peter slackens slightly when I press in, and I decide to cut the theatrics when Reggie clears his throat to alert me that time is scarce.

“I can’t help but to think your namesake was a prelude to your literal future of Robin’ Peter to pay Paul. You’re a devious little shit, aren’t you? Everything from five-fingering the church offering plate to selling Grandma’s Fabergé egg on the internet to landing yourself here for another count of petty theft. You’ve been a busy, busy boy. Your rap sheet is getting a bit thick, considering your balls have barely dropped, and by my count, you’re running out of strikes, so let me reiterate—amateur.”

His eyes widen slightly as my words sink in.

“Yeah, we’ve had our eye on you for some time but don’t get any ideas. You’re not my type.”

I glance around the cell. “So, they locked you in here to scare you straight.” I smirk. “Are youscared, Robin?”

He glares up at me.

“Didn’t think so. My guess is the only thing cooking in that head of yours right now is who to borrow from the second you get out of here.”

He relaxes a little under my hold, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“But what you need to think about now iswhat if... what if things were different ... what if you didn’t have to steal because your dad left you concussed on the floor of that trailer.” I tap the pink scar over his left eyebrow. “And living hand-to-mouth to feed your mother and infant sister?”

Peter stares up at me, and I know I’ve gained his attention by reciting the details of his life—details I’ve made it my business to know.

“What if you could get rid of Paul altogether, andyouwere the one collecting payment? Think about how satisfying it would feel to have a fat roll of green in your pocket just for doing what you were born to do.”

I ease my grip, and he stays idle, his attention fully mine as he considers my words.

“It’s crazy where a day can take you”—I widen my eyes—“trust me on this. Now, I’m going to pull my hand away and see if you can keep a secret, and if you can, we’ll be in touch.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

TYLER