So how is it possible that I forgot just how unabashedly beautiful she is?
“There you are,” I say softly.
“Here I am,” she replies.
And then we just stand about for another wasted eternity, staring at the ground between our feet, two clumsy teenagers both at a loss for words.
But this was my wrong to right. My turn to cross that invisible line and say all the things I was too bloody scared to say before. Too bloody stupid.
“I was hoping for a meeting with Mayor Singh,” I begin. “I decided I needed to share the evidence with her about Brandt. But when I arrived, her assistant told me I’d have to take a number on account of you and several other irate business owners storming the meeting.”
She nods. Takes a step closer. Finally meets my eyes again, and my heartbeat kicks back into gear, thank the fucking demons for small favors.
“You were right about his shady dealings,” she says. “They went even deeper than we realized. Not just in Wayward Bay, but all over the country. That guy we saw at Three Sisters that day? Another of their college friends—CEO of that crappy burrito chain that keeps getting shut down everywhere for health code violations. They were trying to drive Ricci out of business, hoping to take over her building.”
She tells me about the additional evidence Olivy uncovered. The other men implicated in the scheme. The support and testimony of dozens of other neighbors and business owners.
“The good news is, now they’ll all be wheeling and dealing in prison,” she says. “The police have already detained Brandt and Nathan. Mayor Singh is waiting to hear back from the FBI. I’ll probably have to give an official statement.”
“And what of the grants? Are they discontinuing the program?”
“Nope.” She smiles. “The town wants to move forward with it. They’re going to start from scratch, though—new sponsors, new committee. They want us all to re-apply.”
“That’s great, Violet. I really hope you will. You deserve a fair shot.”
“Oh, I’m definitely applying. Ricci too. We’re in this together, now.” She laughs, but a sigh quickly chases it away, emotion glazing her eyes. In a whisper that nearly breaks me, she says, “I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know how to do this, Devlin.”
“Do what?”
“I don’t know what to say to you. You were right about Brandt, and I’m grateful for the evidence. And while I know I could’ve handled things better, it still doesn’t change the fact that what you did… It sucked. Totally and completely sucked. I can’t… I just…Damnit.”
She stalks out of the courtyard, and I’ve got no choice but to follow. I let her walk away once—let her slip right through my hands like water. I’m not about to live through that a second time.
“I never meant to hurt you, Violet,” I say, jogging to catch up. “First and foremost, please know that. I truly believed I was helping you.”
“And what about helping yourself?” She turns around to face me, tears staining her cheeks, each one breaking my heart. “Or are you seriously going to tell me you didn’t force Brandt to sign away his soul?”
“I did force him, yes. Though his fate was sealed long ago. Signing it over was just a technicality at that point, as most of them are.”
She glances up at the sky and shakes her head. Says nothing.
“Violet, you have a right to be upset with me, but please don’t tell me you’re losing sleep over that man’s fate.”
“Is that what you think I’m losing sleep over? Seriously?” She looks at me again and laughs, bitter and cold. “No, Devlin. You don’t get off that easy. I’m upset because you knew how important it was that I earn the grant fair and square. No magic, no supernatural complications—just on my own merits. Yet you went behind my back anyway with your… your twisty horns and glowy eyes and that… thatDevilmojo and—”
“I beg your pardon,” I say, defenses rising. “It’s notmojo. It’s—”
“It’swrong, that’s what it is. I don’t care what name you give it, it’s wrong. You manipulated and blackmailed him into giving me the grant after he’d already turned me down. And I just don’t know how to get past that.” She turns away again, stomping off toward the café.
Once more, I’m right on her heels, shadowing her every step. “Yes, Ididmanipulate and blackmail him. Terrified him to the bloody core—you should’ve seen him. I wielded my dark influence, my power, everything at my disposal, all to make him tremble and squirm and bend to my will. Guilty as fucking charged.” I reach for her hand and stop her just outside the café door, forcing her to turn and meet my eyes, knowing damn well this might be the very last of it—the last time she ever looks at me from behind those big glasses, the last time I ever get the chance to speak all the words from my heart. “But even knowing the outcome, Violet, I wouldn’t change what I did. Because while I’m sorry for hurting you—more than you’ll ever realize—I’mnotsorry for trying to save Kettle and Cauldron by any means necessary.”
“By threatening my ex with eternal Hell? Why?” She unlocks the door and storms inside, dropping her bag on the counter and retreating behind it. “Why would you think that was evenremotelyokay? Why would youdosomething like that?”
Why. That’s the question, isn’t it? And as I follow her behind the counter, desperate to touch her, to hold her in my arms, to make all of this right, a thousand answers spring to mind.
Because I don’t like Remington’s stupid name and his smarmy look and the cheap suits.
Because his mereexistenceoffends me.
