Vitiel

was a masochist, or perhaps s

k at the corpse of my marriag

ght me to swim in the ocean without fear, his hands strong beneath my waist. It w

behind the overgrown privet hedges. My hands were shaking on

the trees. It was a discordant sound, one that didn't belong i

ugh the branc

wearing

skin like a second layer of betrayal. Dante was watching her. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't stopping her, either. He was lea

ainst my nerves. "We should turn that old shed

ut the only place on this

slow sip of his drink. "D

cal blow. He wasn't just erasing me; he was letti

walked blindly toward the edge of the prope

I approached the trunk, my fingers tr

. For

. He had pressed me against the wood, kissing me until I was diz

ters looked

pulled out the small penkni

d me. I just st

like amber tears. I scraped and slashed, my breath coming in j

o we ha

was right

mirking. Dante was a few steps behind he

g closer. "Trying to rewr

e didn't even flinch as she took it-and pres

id, looking at him over her shoulder, her

ing into the tree was the

dn't b

t," I w

t and pulled out a silk scarf. My scarf

at my feet. "Dante said this color washes

aze final

I shoved

ll back, landing on

e's voice was

kay. He shoved me back, his hands hard against my sh

led, his eyes dark with co

dusting off her knees like

is shoulder. "Before I hav

r, blinded by tears. I c

hind me a minute later. He was driv

tailgating me, his grille filling my rearview mir

world e

ign. It slammed into t

ashing into the guardrail. Metal screamed. Glas

le

, sm

eye. My car was pinned, but I wa

s side. Smoke was pou

move

door open. He climbed out, bl

rough the shattered windshields.

down at the p

ged her out, cradling her in his arms as

d his ba

o scream, but it c

eckage, carrying the woman who mocked me, leaving

nymore," I heard him sa