Page 228 of Wild Card

I love you in a way I never imagined possible. You are my world.

Talon

I re-read the note,making sure my tears don’t drip on the paper. The scroll of his penmanship, the words, the emotions and sentiment—all of it rooted all the way to my bones. The beautiful necklace weighing on my neck another reminder of the man who owns my heart.

There’s a soft knock at the door and Wolf lurches to his feet, his tail swooshing excitedly.

“Come in.” I slip the note under my pillow, swiping my eyes.

April peeks around the door. “How’s the studying going?”

I glimpse down at my laptop and the notes strewn about the bed. It was a coward’s way out—using my studies as an excuse to be alone. But no matter how large this house is, I felt like the walls were closing in on me when I wasn’t in Talon’s room.

Not to mention, the sympathy aimed my way.

All my notes blur together on the pages, making no sense. Each time I attempted to concentrate, my focus drifted to Talon.

“I’m not getting much accomplished,” I admit.

“Are you hungry?”

“We just ate.”

“Sweetheart, you barely touched your breakfast six hours ago.”

Six hours? It couldn’t be. “Is it still Tuesday?”

Her slight smile falters and she nods. “It is.”

I mentally calculate; it’s been fifty-six hours since I woke up to an empty bed and Talon gone.

Fifty-six hours since a fear struck me so deep and splintered my heart into a million pieces.

I didn’t get to tell him goodbye, kiss him, soak in his warmth, wish him luck… tell him I love him more than anything.

A single tear falls and Wolf waddles into my space, bumping my shoulder.

The next second, I’m engulfed in April’s arm.

Her gentle embrace opens the dam and a sob escapes. I cradle into her hold and cry until I’m gasping for air. She rocks me, rubbing my back with the tenderness that reminds me so much of Talon, my soul aches.

Her chest trembles and realization hits me hard.

Her son is gone—again. Doing God knows what, God knows where, and she woke up to the same shock and disbelief a few days ago.

She’s hurting, too, and I’ve been in my own world, selfishly avoiding everyone.

Mortification crashes through me as I slip my arms around her waist and squeeze. Her tears drip on my neck, and I suck in a deep breath, willing myself to pull it together.

When I trust my voice, I say, “He’s your son and I’ve disregarded the way this affects you and Mark. You’re hurting as well.”

She loosens her hold, moving her hand to tip my face. A lump lodges in my throat at her watery gaze.

“A mother’s worry never ends.”

“How do you get through it?”

“When Talon first enlisted, I was sick for a month. His first deployment, I was a wreck. It never got easier, just more tolerable, I guess you could say. When he told me he was getting out and becoming a police officer, I wasn’t happy. I also wasn’t surprised. We joked he was trying to give me heart failure. But through it all, I have hung on to one thing. My faith in my son.”

---