Page 87 of Give Me Redemption

Bryce turns to Harrison, and she looks worried. I feel bad for the girl.

“You should go,” he says coldly.

“Bryce, I’m—”

“Just leave,” he interrupts her. He walks over to the chair in the room and sits down, placing his head into his hands as he rests his elbows on his knees. “Both of you. Get the fuck out of here.” Harrison looks over at me, but I don’t move.

We’re not done here.

She gives him one last look before turning toward the door. It clicks shut behind her and I focus my attention back on him.

“How can you act that way toward her? She’s the one person you should be leaning on right now and you just pushed her away.”

He looks up at me. “What the hell do you know about relationships, playboy?”

My jaw tightens. I want to tell him about Dalton. I want to tell him that I’ve fallen for someone, and when he does this stupid shit, she’s the person I’ve been leaning on. But I keep my mouth shut about her. Besides, that’s over.

It’s all over.

“I know you’re being an idiot. You’re pissed at us, when you should be pissed at the one who overdosed.”

He looks down. “Why can’t you forgive her? Why are you so self-destructive and always blaming everyone around you for how you turned out? We grew up in a nice place. You’re constantly fucking up. You get kicked out of the Army. Who the hell does that?” he asks.

My blood turns cold and my heart freezes. Not letting a second pass, I lift up a chair and throw it across the private waiting room. Bryce’s eyes grow wide.

“Oh, what, you wanna throw a temper tantrum now?”

Tears blur my vision and I can’t help it. I’m screwed up and I can’t stop it from getting to me this time. Too much has happened. I’m tired of being strong. I’m sick to death of it.

I grab my hat and toss it at the ground before looking back at him. “You want to know why I got kicked out?”

His eyes soften, looking hesitate, like he isn’t quite sure he does.

“It’s because I couldn’t take it anymore.” I rub my eyes and look up. “They all died. I was the only one who survived. My whole team. My boys, the ones who had my back even more than you, died right in front of me, and I couldn’t do a damn thing to save them.” I sniff and shake my head. “I wanted out. I wake up sometimes in the middle of the night screaming, sweat covering my body. It’s all still so vivid.”

“Jace,” he says.

I sit down beside him and put my fist to my mouth as tears run down my cheeks. I cry for my brothers that I’ll never see again and the person I’ve become.

“I’m sorry for the way I am, but the things I’ve seen changed me, and there isn’t anything I can do about it.” He puts his arm around me, and I let him for only a moment, and then I sit up straight, wipe my face, and stand up.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“I need a drink. Call me later,” I say, reaching down and grabbing my hat before I yank open the door and head down the hall.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Harlow

I stare out the window with Slim beside me, gently rubbing my hand over his fur. Pain slides down my face, dripping from my chin and splashing onto my shirt.

“I would have given you the best of me.”

I would have given anything to have that. When he told me he loved me, it hit me like a ton of bricks, smashing me into a wall. I have no way out. I’m stuck in this impossible situation.

My life has always been the same—chasing Chloe. I’ve been letting each day pass by, hoping only to be one step closer to finding her.

Until Jace.

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