Page 2 of The Burnt Heart

My life is crumbling around me.

That was what I wanted to say. But I had a lifetime of holding my tongue.

“I had a fight with my boyfriend,” I diluted the reality of the situation. “Ex-boyfriend, I should say.”

I shrugged with a watery smile. Something about the way Briar was washing my hands stemmed the spiraling emotions inside me. I managed to snag the fried ends and tuck them away. I pulled my hands back and tucked my feet under my butt. It was then I noticed the dark looks on the boys’ faces. I stiffened, realizing too late how it looked. My dress ripped into pieces, scratches on my skin like someone had sliced their nails into me.

“Point us in his direction, please. I just want to talk to him.” Jesse cracked his knuckles. The lighthearted smile had vanished. He had one silver hoop in his ear, and it glittered wildly against his dark skin. He flashed his teeth again, but the smile he offered was hungry with violence I recognized.

A laugh cascaded out of me at the incredulity of this situation. The idea of these three kindhearted guys rolling up to take on Raimondo was preposterous. They didn’t realize I was more than capable of doing it myself. Given some time to regroup, I would destroy him. I didn’t need anyone to do it for me.

“There’s no need,” I assured them, my chest glowing a little at their immediate protection. “I don’t care about him so much as I hate the hit to my reputation.”

“Your reputation?” Logan leaned on the nearby tree. It towered over us, its branches covered in vines. Unease flared in my stomach, I needed to change the subject.

“Why areyouout here?” I asked, wiping the residue of tears off my face, careful to avoid messing with the scrapes. My heart was tender, but lighter than ten minutes ago. They looked shifty, Jesse blowing a breath to the clear blue sky.

“We’re celebrating our emancipation,” he said, and shrugged at my quizzical look.

“Foster kids,” Briar hurried to add. I didn’t miss the slight stiffness that locked Jesse’s shoulders and the way Logan’s drooped. “The group home we were in is just around the corner. But we’ve aged out and have to get our own place. We’re here saying goodbye. This lot was where we spent a lot of time growing up. It could get chaotic in the home.” Briar’s cheeks flooded red, and he made an embarrassed noise. “Sorry. I rambled a bit. You don’t want to know our life story.”

“Well, congratulations? Is that appropriate?” I leaned over to give Briar a little squeeze. He froze in my arms, and I pulled back with a grimace.

“Sorry, I’m a hugger. Should have asked you.”

“Don’t need to ask me,” Jesse chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. Logan lined up behind him with a wink and pulled me into a brief squeeze. Jesse and Briar shared a shell-shocked look that I couldn’t decipher. The sun crawled across the sky, forgotten by the words that sprang up between us. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t weigh every word I spoke. I still dissected every minute movement they made. But it was like collecting small, precious treasures. Briar twisted his hands together when he impatiently waited to interject. Jesse cracked his knuckles to diffuse the awkwardness. Logan tugged on his left ear when he considered an answer. They’d all sneaked surreptitious looks at my cleavage, but they hadn’t made one gross comment or move that might make me uncomfortable. Honestly, the stroke to my ego was welcome. It wasn’t until the light turned golden on the tree trunk that I stretched and stood. Father would be worried sick. I couldn’t delay the embarrassing return any longer.

“Thanks for keeping me company. I would have been stuck in my head all afternoon and instead I made three new friends.” I smoothed down the now grubby dress, reluctantly.

“Hug it out?” Jesse offered, opening his arms, and I laughed as he bundled me up. I softened in the cradle of his embrace, my high walls obliterated by the disastrous morning. But I didn’t bother to erect them again, the drugging warmth from our connection too tantalizing to resist.

“Make sure you put some disinfectant on those scrapes, and if you need someone to help with an ex-boyfriend problem, we’re the ones to call.” Briar gave me a soft smile. I offered him back his jacket, which he protested. But I knew if I came home with a strange man’s clothing tied around my waist, it would send my family berserk.

“Three new friends who can definitely use their fists,” Logan added with a raised eyebrow. I walked back to the house like I was stepping on clouds. A silly little smile on my face that didn’t fade even when father tore strips off me for my reckless behavior.

Three new friends who did not know who I was.

1

Adelaide

I looked down at my glistening nails. I’d opted for short, sharp tips with an opalescent sheen that I thought would go well with an engagement ring. How foolishly optimistic I’d been.

“Adelaide?” Jesse repeated my name, sounding concerned. “Did you hear what I said?”

Swallowing didn’t budge the lump in my throat, and I choked as it dug into the sides. What could I say to the men I had considered family for the last five years. What words could ease the tightness of my chest. My tongue caught hostage by their duplicity. Jesse leaned forward, his warm gaze hooded as it roamed over me. Briar twisted his hands, a clear sign he wanted to de-escalate, usually preceded by him fleeing the room. My sweet boy detested conflict. Only Logan seemed unaffected. He even looked at his watch, angling his wrist down.

Breaking my heart was clearly cutting into the time they needed to get their new project started. The desire to create their own legacy had ramped up since introducing a new investor who had whipped them into a frenzy of activity. I didn’t begrudge the months of late nights for all of them. The ones peppered with distracting phone calls whenever we were together. I hadn’t even mentioned when they missed our anniversary dinner last month. I’d waited in the restaurant for an hour before they told me where they were. When they deigned to return from their work emergency, they didn’t apologize or acknowledge the day. Still, I let it go. I had put them through a lot worse. Their lives were always under the threat of danger because of me.

I knew my unusual career brought its own challenges. They’d had to suffer my absence many times, especially when my father’s reputation was close to decimation last year. It was only quick thinking, rapid restructuring and a dash of luck that had kept him from being swept up in the police raids. I’d created the Orazio Foundation as a front. A glossy facade to cover up a myriad of darker happenings. But now it was my focus during the revamp of the Orazio reputation. We’d all been busier than ever working on our separate projects.

But I never expected this.

My heart was in stasis, forgetting how to beat. I looked at my nails again, mourning that I would never look at this color without their words echoing in my ears.

We want to break up.

“We love you Adelaide, since we were eighteen years old. But we need to explore ourselves,” Jesse added, and I lifted my gaze to him. Hoping he saw the aching chasm gaping in my chest. He flinched, eyes dropping from mine. Coward. Words were still beyond me, stifled under a strangling sob that squeezed my heart. My chest shuddered with uneven breaths. How could theydo this to me? Especially knowing how important tomorrow night was.

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