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PROLOGUE
ELIAS
“To love is to burn, to be on fire.” —Jane Austen.
“I need you to let me go,” I whispered in Capri’s ear. I held her so close to my chest that I could feel her rapidly beating heart hammering against mine.
It shattered right there in front of me, and I couldn’t help but feel responsible. Although I was doing this for us, it still killed me inside to know that I caused her this much unintentional pain. I had to remain strong for us. It was the only way I was going to get on that plane.
It didn’t surprise me when she replied, “I don’t think I can, Elias.”
The certainty in her tone broke my heart all over again.
I knew this wouldn’t be easy. Saying goodbye never was, but we’d make it through this.
We had to.
Capri was my everything, and the past four years of our relationship had been the best time of my life. I’d make this up to her. Our future depended on me taking this job overseas, whether I wanted to or not.
We were college sweethearts, ready to embark on a life together, except I couldn’t give her that yet. I needed to make something of myself to give her the life she deserved.
Capri was the daughter of Julian and Autumn Locke. She lived a life of luxury from the second she was born. Her father invented the first electric sports car, and that was just one of his multibillion-dollar corporations. Her mother was the owner of one of the top public relations agencies in the world. They were considered a power couple, and I couldn’t agree more.
Capri had never wanted for anything, and it was completely opposite of my upbringing. I had to work my ass off for everything I’d accomplished in my studies since grade school. My mother ran off before I was two years old, and my old man liked to remind me of it every chance he could. He had a nasty temper, and I learned at a very early age to steer clear of him, especially when he was drinking. I had mental and physical scars to prove it.
Capri was everything I ever wanted from the second I laid eyes on her gorgeous face. Being the salutatorian of the university we graduated from last month was the only reason I got this opportunity of a lifetime to work for self-made entrepreneur Joseph Dupont. As one of the best investment bankers, he wanted me to help manage an office he was opening in London. This was the career I always dreamed of, and the knowledge and skills I’d acquire in this short time would set Capri and me up for life.
The only downside was the job was in London, and Capri’s whole existence was in Texas. She started working for her mother last year and loved every second of it. No way in hell could I let her give that up. She had her own goals and dreams to take over her mom’s company, and sadly, Mrs. Locke didn’t have an office in London. My position for Dupont Industries would only be for three years, and then I could transfer to whatever office I wanted.
However, that wasn’t my goal. I wanted to open my own firm, and with the help of Dupont, I could make that happen. My end goal was to shake her father’s hand and know we were on the same playing field. I had to prove myself to her family and to her, and I wouldn’t stop until I made it happen.
“Beauty.” I pressed my lips against hers, rubbing them back and forth along her soft, supple mouth.
There was no beauty like Capri’s with her bright red hair and serene green eyes. However, her freckles drove me wild. Her honey scent was an addiction to me. Her skin always smelled edible, making her even more enticing. But her bubbly personality made me fall in love with her to begin with.
Her smile.
Her laugh.
Her touch.
It all had the power to bring me to my knees if she wanted, and trust me, sometimes it did.
“I love you, and that won’t ever change. Tell me you know that?” I rasped along her mouth, needing to hear her say the words like I was a man on death row.
“I know,” she whimpered, trying to steady her voice.
I repeated for what felt like the millionth time, “I promise you it will be worth it. I have to do this for us?—”
“But my dad can?—”
“Capri, you know I can’t take handouts from anyone. I need to do this for us.”
“No.” She shook her head, looking deep into my eyes. “You need to do it for you.”
I winced for a second before responding, “That’s not fair.”
“None of this is fair, Elias. Or else you wouldn’t be leaving me.”
