Page 155 of Severed Heart

In awe of her for the first time in years, her first enormous feat reminds me of why I fell for her in the first place. Her ability to appreciate the beauty of a world that has done nothing but hurt her. The battered heart which steadily beats inside her chest despite the horrific scars made by those who abused it. For her boundless love of the simplest pleasures despite her complicated existence. Maybe I forced her the day I stormed in less than two weeks ago, demanding she fight for herself. Declaring a war she should have, but it’s evident now that she’s taking over. Especially as she grips my hand tightly, her head continually lifting to the sun as its beam strengthens on her face. As if it’s fueling her.

As we reach the orchard later that morning, both exhausted from lack of sleep and the emotional toll, I feel her resilience taking hold. Glancing over as she scans the grounds, a smile budding on her lips, it’s then that a certainty starts to settle into me. The certainty that someday, in the future, when the right moment presents itself, she’s going to spread her wings and take flight.

And I’m going to be the one to watch her do it.

Chapter Forty-One

TYLER

BLINK.

Ringing his number, it’s answered on the second trill.

“Evening, brother,” I greet, beating him to the punch, my heart lighter with the news on the tip of my tongue, but forcing myself mute so as not to deny Delphine what she’s rightfully earned to share herself. Mere days from her victory, her spirits are high despite her grueling daily therapy. It’s then I continually repeat his name for long seconds of the connected call despite hearing his breath clearly on the other end of the line.

“T?” I prompt again, hearing a barrage of background noise, which sounds like a bar, as I steer my truck into a nearby parking lot. Checking my signal, a second later, I hear a French prompt. “En voudriez-vous un autre?”Would you like another?

“T? I think we’ve got a bad connection. I’m going to ring you back.”

Hanging up, I dial his number again. This time it’s answered on thefirstring as confusion sets in. It’s as the seconds of silence tick by that the smile I’ve been sporting for days begins to fade with realization. Realization that there’s nothing wrong with our phone connection, but it’s our bond as brother’s that’s rapidly fissuring across the line because of my treachery.

A full minute of silence ticks by as I grapple with what I could possibly fucking say because he’s waiting for the start of aconfession. It’s then Iphysicallystart to sense the rage coming from the man at the end of the line as the noise around him ceases as if he’s entered a room. Anxiety ramping, I palm my forehead and let out a harsh exhale, knowing I’m fucking damned no matter what words I choose. “I’m so fucking sorry, brother—”

Before I get a full sentence out, he’s gone.

Pulling up to the garage minutes later, I pass Russell, Jeremy, and Peter—who we haven’t let isolate since the night of our latest secret—taking off in one of our FLEET vans on a new mission. They sound a horn in greeting as I pull in, and they speed away. With their absence, I’m thankful when I catch Sean working alone in a bay, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips. He glances over at me as he secures a part, his eyes lighting up as he greets me.

“Hey there,stranger,I paid your part of the light bill, not that your light isever onthese days.”

Tossing his smoke, Sean grinds it out with his boot and finally looks over to me, a smile on his face. A contented smile. One I’ve spotted on both my brothers’ faces in recent months. However, their expressions are a continual mix of both contentment and fear when we’re behind closed doors and away from Cecelia because of one reason—their deception to their brother.

It’s the look of happiness on Sean’s face now, of being in love and knowing what it feels like. Like this fucked up world finally makes more sense. Like there’s purpose and meaning. A feeling of belonging that’s fucking indescribable with the right woman. Which is exactly how I feel when I’m with Delphine. It’s when Sean gauges my return expression that I rip every bit of that contentment and happiness away.

“He knows,” Sean deduces, lowering his eyes for long seconds before chucking the tool in his hand. It clangs loudly on the bay floor as he begins to pace, lighting up again. “Do you know how he found out?”

“If you’re in any way suggesting—” I grit out, taking fast offense, and he cuts me off mid-sentence.

“I’m not, brother. Hand to God. I know you didn’t tell him, and for your own sake, you should have. Question is, who the fuck did?”

“He’s not a fucking idiot, Sean. He’s actually quite brilliant. In fact, him being distracted while a continent away, along with his collective trust in the three of us, was your only shot at keeping an upper hand.”

“What did he say?” he asks before taking a massive pull on his cigarette.

“Nothing. Justlong, tenseseconds of damning fucking silence, and trust me, that’s enough.” Sean pauses his footing and stops, really looking at me with remorse-filled eyes.

“I’m sorry, Tyler. I really am. The situation we put you in is fucked.”

I nod, knowing that not only will I have to face the fucking hell coming my way for my silence, but in breaking the oath Tobias and I made years ago, I lost a level of trust I may never earn back.

“What do we do?” Sean asks.

“We? I’m not in this. In fact, I’m ten steps removed. You and Dom work it out. I’ll deal with mending my relationship with Tmy way.”

He swallows and nods.

“Where are they?” I ask.

“On a date,” Sean sighs.