Page 125 of Ace of Spades

"You’re leaving SKC?" she asks, voice small.

I nod once.

"You can stay. Your 30 day trial has reached it’s end. And I’ve decided… I want you to run the shop.”

“Levi… what the hell are you talking about?”

“You’re already more than capable,” I tell her, doing my best not to look into those eyes that will so easily take me under.

She wraps her arms around herself, retreating into the hoodie like she could hide from this.

"Why?" she asks. "Things are finally good. Where is this all coming from?”

I shake my head.

"I can’t lose Theo," I say, and this at least is true. "He’s already pulled away once before. If I don’t do something... if I don’t show him that he still matters first, I’m scared I’ll lose him for good, Sienna. And goddamnit… I’ve already lost so much."

Telling her this tastes like ash in my mouth. Maybe I should come clean about Brody. About his threats against my family. Maybe saying the truth, will free us both. Or maybe, it’ll just dig a deeper hole.

Maybe it’ll make her second guess ever coming to Breaker’s Isle to begin with and then I’ll never see her again. At least if she runs the shop… I’ll know where to find her.

And maybe that’s selfish, but I’m learning that love acts in erratic ways sometimes.

Sienna’s chin wobbles but she fights it down like the damn warrior she is.

"I understand," she says after a beat. "I don't like it. But I understand. You have to take care of your family first, Levi."

I step closer, reach out, then let my hand drop before I touch her.

If I touch her, I'll break.

"I’m sorry," I whisper.

She gives a watery smile.

"Me too."

Neither of us says what we really want to say.

That it’s not over. That it can’t be.

That this isn’t fair.

That maybe in another world...

But this isn’t another world.

This is ours.

And right now, it’s a broken, fucked up world.

Chapter34

Sienna

Ican barely look at myself in the mirror.

My eyes are swollen, bloodshot.

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