Page 184 of Dark Endures

Jacko shakes his head. “We kind of thought he might need some space after all the stress.”

“Let’s just give it a quick check.” Colton lives in an apartment on The Street. It isn’t long before I’m letting myself in.

Everything appears normal. Mostly clean for a single guy, even.

I scan the space, not quite sure what I’m looking—An envelope with my name on it. Something feels very off.

Maddox,

When I came here all those years ago, I knew I had found the right place for me. My life felt like it started when I became a brother. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think I’d betray the men who trusted me with their lives, but I did just that. It was unknowingly done, but I can’t remain here, knowing I’ve lost all of your trust.

I’d like to believe it was the fact that my heart is so big that I trusted the wrong person, but I didn’t even know it happened until the day Mindy was kidnapped. Plant isn’t just Adonis’ cousin, he’s also mine. A year ago, I did one of those DNA test kits, hoping to find some family. It came up with one single match. A cousin who lived in Urbium. I can’t believe Plant pulled the wool over my eyes. But at the time, I couldn’t imagine a life without blood relatives. So I fell for every line Plant gave me. I was the one who helped Plant find Marlie. It wasn’t on purpose. He was a cop. I didn’t even think he was paying attention when I mentioned needing to take careof someone. But that was the day Marlie disappeared from the safe house.

I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do to make it right with my brothers or with Marlie. But I’m going to find her if it takes the rest of my life to do it.

Colton

His cut sits draped across a chair in the breakfast nook. We would have understood. We would have forgiven him. But he’s right, there would have been a small amount of doubt in the back of my brain.

***

“You know, it’s not that hard to pick a ring.” Ethan points out as we step into the fourth jewelry store.

“It’s got to be just the right one.” Not that I know what the right one looks like, or I would have ordered a custom ring. Her friends weren’t any help. They each suggested something different.

“Boy, this has nothing to do with the ring and everything to do with fear. What are you afraid of?”

Ethan knows me too well. “I’m afraid that she’ll say no. Every time I try to talk about it, she changes the topic or finds something she needs to do.”

“You know her mother has her all messed up when it comes to relationships. Not everyone grew up with strong examples of marriage.”

I know that. And I’m trying to be patient. “It’s hard.”

“Marriage doesn’t make it any easier.” Ethan sets a hand on my shoulder. “Nor does fear. I had lost so many people that the idea of marrying Emilia terrified me.”

What?

“Don’t look at me like that, boy. I have fears, just like everyone else. And that woman terrified me. She still does. The thought of losing her…makes my stomach curdle. Just like whenyou’re in the thick of battle, you can’t let fear paralyze you. Now pick a ring.”

“Yes, sir.”

My Only Divorce

Mindy

“This was a brilliant idea. How did you talk them into it?” Fiona carries a tray of bread out to the tables.

I shrug carefully, so that I don’t drop the focaccia that’s on my platter. “No idea. They just all said yes.”

“That doesn’t sound like them. They guard their Sunday dinners like they’re sacred. This was an amazing idea.”

“Are you talking about Sunday dinner?” Dahlia walks up.

“Yeah.”

“They made a schedule for Maverick and me to follow for the next year. And if we want to go on vacation, they need to approve it.” Dahlia grins. “My mom is now suggesting that she should have equal time on the schedule. It’s a trap, I tell you. All Maverick and I want to do on Sundays is sit in the library and read.”

“We should protest.”

---