And now I’m the one drowning, and you… You’re just gone.
Present Day
“What the goddamned fuck!” I launch myself at River, grabbing his collar and slamming him into the wall.
I told you that you’d both love me and hate me for what I was going to do.
River’s words.
River’s fucking words.
“Easy.”
Sienna’s voice.
“Brett, easy.”
Again, Sienna.
Sienna. My love.
I finally found love again. Her vibrant fire. Her beauty. Her sweet soul.
And now…
“You fucking son of a bitch,” I say through clenched teeth.
River doesn't fight back, just looks me in the eye, his expression unreadable. “Yeah. I feel that. I deserve that.” His words are slow and measured, the voice of reason that, under normal circumstances, I would rely on.
Sienna is pulling at my arm, but I won’t let go of River, not until I've gotten some answers.
“What did you do?” I demand. "What the fuck did you do?”
With a sharp tug, Sienna manages to pry my fingers from River's collar. She steps between us, her eyes pleading withme to calm down, but anger pulses through my veins like a living thing, blinding me to everything else.
I push her away.
She gasps. “Brett!”
I love her.
And I love the man standing in the foyer, a mask of confusion on his fine features.
Jake.
Damn. Jake.
Jake who is very much alive. I should be rejoicing.
But right now, my hate for River—River, who’s been my closest friend for as long as I can remember—overpowers everything.
“I didn’t know,” River whispers.
“Didn’t know what?” I grit out.
“That you… That you felt…”
True. He didn’t know. Not until several days ago. I never trusted anyone with my most guarded secret.
