Page 63 of Secret Sins

Alex laughed. "Anyway, I'm happy for you."

"I appreciate it."

Their kind words filled me for the rest of the day while I opened up the shop, changed the blackboard out front to a standard hiring message, and restocked books. I knew I'd chosen the right man for me, and it pleased me to know everyone else saw it too. All the times I'd tried to convince Van he was a pure soul, I didn't think he truly agreed with me. Perhaps he thought I was blinded by love, or even lying. But everyone close to me saw the same thing. Riley had mentioned it a time or two, and Ellie and Alex had validated that.

I would set aside my questions about his secrets because I respected him enough to let him choose when to tell me. In the end, I couldn't imagine anything bad enough that I would change my mind about how deeply I loved him. Once upon a time, I'd envisioned him being an assassin, and I would love him even if that were true. I had a wild imagination, but I was sensible, too. After years in prison, nothing he could say about what might have happened to him would surprise me. If it were me, that wasn't something I'd want to talk about readily.

At the end of the day, I would support him in all things, helping him reach out to Beth and finding a way to live his life unafraid.

Chapter 23

Van

The ringing phone woke me from a deep sleep. After work, I'd gone home to nap before meeting Bailey for dinner. Instead, I fumbled to grab the burner phone from my nightstand, my heart beating in my throat.

"Bethy?" I croaked.

"What the fuck were you thinking‽" she shouted. "I've been worried to death over you!"

Those words were all it took for me to collapse back against the headboard, tears forming in my eyes. A world's worth of weight lifted from my shoulders. "Same old Bethy."

"Same old Justin," she shot back. "Worried about everyone but yourself."

With a deep breath, I said, "I go by Van now."

Beth was quiet for a few seconds. "That'll take some getting used to, I suppose."

"How are you? Don't lie, either."

"Other than missing my baby brother?" I could hear a smile in her voice. "I'm doing great. Although, I look like I swallowed a cantaloupe because I'm expecting your niece in about five months."

Fuck me. I'd missed too much. "I want to see you, but I can't risk it. The brothers—"

"Luca died like the dog he was, strung up by an inmate who'd had enough of being pushed around. Leo is currently in the loony bin because he went apeshit when he learned of his brother's death."

My breath was the only motion in the room. Time stood still while my heart and lungs returned to normal function, and then I had to force out my words in a whisper. "You mean there's nothing left to run from?"

"That's what I'm saying, yeah. The rest of the Vitale men joined other families when the shit hit the fan."

"You mean I can come home?" But as I said it, the words felt wrong on my tongue. Maryland was no longer my home.

"You can, Jus—um, Van. You can come back and live with Mike and me, and be here for the birth of this little one."

I didn't think it would be so fucking painful to hear those words. After all, I'd waited months now for such an enormous reprieve. "I—I can't."

"What do you mean, you can't? Listen, there's no one looking for you anymore. If it's about living with us—"

"It's not," I interrupted quietly. "I thought I was running for my life, but instead, I found it here."

After a few beats, she asked, "Where is here?"

"Port Townsend, Washington. It's the most wonderful little community, and the people here care about me. I even have a girlfriend."

"Wow, my little brother committed to a woman? Color me impressed."

Her tone didn't match her words. It was difficult to know I'd disappointed her, but I couldn't expect anything else. "Beth, I'm really sorry."

"I don't want you to be sorry for finding happiness. It's not your fault you couldn't find it here."