Page 190 of Soul So Dark

The only reason I left this card in here is because there’s nothing identifiable on it. It’s a key card, but I don’t know what it goes to, only that Mason told me to hang onto it.

I know it looks like a dirty rag in a Ziploc bag, but I can’t bear to throw this away. It was the blanket my mom made for me before I was born. She made one for each of us, and this is what’s left of mine. This is the reason I couldn’t care less whether Jordyn Harrington lives or dies, and why everyone probably thinks I’m the one who almost killed her. I didn’t. But if I did, this would be the reason why.

This necklace is the only thing I have left from my mom. She loved the color purple, and I know you do, too. My dad gave it to her on their wedding day. I don’t think she ever took it off. I remember her telling me that when I was a baby, I’d grab it and hold on to it and I’d always stop crying and go to sleep, no matter what.

There’s no one else I trust more to keep the secrets in this box safe than you. I promise I’ll come back to you, Dallas. And when I do, we’ll do all the things we never got a chance to do and you’ll never have to worry about me leaving ever again.

Love, Alex

???

Dallas feels just like I remember, with the same satin skin at the small of her back and dramatic curve in her waist that gives way to those incredible hips of hers.And that dump truck of an ass.And when I reluctantly make myself pull away from her, my eyes are drawn to the amethyst pendant glimmering against her breastbone.

Gripping my wrists, she stares up at me through wide eyes. “You’re here,” she whispers through shallow breaths. “How are you here?”

“I keep my promises,” I reply, gently running my thumbs back and forth across the apples of her cheeks.

Her radiant eyes dart across my face and her mouth falls open, but no words come out. In an instant, her arms fly up and she grabs me around the neck, clinging to my shoulders. I bend down and wrap my arms around her, lifting her to my waist. The heels of her boots tap the backs of my knees as I lumber away from the gaming screens and out of the crowd. And as soon as I lower her back down, she pulls my lips to hers again while her trembling hands move across the back of my neck and beneath the bill of my hat.

“I’m here, Dal,” I murmur between each kiss that feels like an electrical current shooting down my spine. “I’m finally here.”

“I…I—” she stammers as her brow twitches with disbelief. “I have so many questions.Alex…” she says my name like she’s learning it all over again.

“So do I,” I smirk, “and the first one is,whatisthis?”

I seize her face and tip her chin up so her mouth falls open, revealing a neon pink and purple striped stud in the center of her tongue.

“It’s a tongue ring,” she mumbles up at me, except it comes out as gibberish.

“We’ll have to do something about that,” I mutter condescendingly while I peer into her mouth.

“Don’t you fucking tell me what to do!” she gurgles back at me.

“Damn,Mariposita,” I chuckle, holding her firm. “You’ve got a mouth on you now.”

I can’t contain my amusement as Dallas smacks at my wrists, trying to wriggle out of my grasp. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, I still know exactly how to rile her up and she’ll still come at me hard each time.

Before I can tease her more, something slams into my shoulder, knocking Dallas out of my grip. She grabs her face with a yelp as she staggers to the side. On reflex, I grab her around the waist and pull her close before my other arm juts out and seizes the assailant by the neck of his shirt. I whip my head around with a snarl, ready to leave this motherfucker a bloody pile of entrails on the marble tile.

“You,” Bostwick balks.

My nostrils flare as I glare at him, motionless except for my chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths.

“Alex,” Dallas presses her palm against my chest in an effort to quell the situation, and to stave off the nervous glances being cast our way.

Concluding he’s not actually a threat, I give Bostwick a sharp shove as I release his shirt.

“You alright?” he asks Dallas.

“Yes,” she murmurs with irritation.

Then he turns his attention to me again. “Are you a cop now?” he glowers, looking me up and down.

“No,” I deadpan with just as much disdain.

“It’s fine, I just—” Dallas grabs my arm and starts pulling me away from Bostwick. “I’m fine,” she reassures him. “Just go, I’ll be right there.”

I snicker with amusement as Dallas leads me away. We come to a stop near one of the brewery kiosks with its counter lined with pint glasses and pitchers of free water. Suddenly, there’s athwackas Dallas smacks me in the shoulder as hard as she can, which isn’t hard at all.