The Endless Road to Sunshine - Nicky James Page 0,3

for you, love. I was keeping you safe. They tempted you, and I couldn’t have that. No one shall have what is mine, don’t you see? No one. You belong to me.”

I clenched my fists as my body quaked. “You sick fuck.”

He smiled then, and it was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. My stomach roiled, and I thought I was going to be sick.

“You killed them, didn’t you? All of them.”

His grin never wavered. There was no remorse, no guilt, no regret. “At one time or another, eleven men stood before you. Eleven men tested your weak will. If I hadn’t taken action, where would we be, Jason? Hmm? Tell me.”

I couldn’t stop shaking my head. His face blurred as tears threatened. I shouted, “What are you talking about?”

The guard cleared his throat. A warning that if I didn’t calm down, he’d end the visit immediately.

There was no point telling Morgan he was wrong, that his jealous brain had twisted facts and turned good-humored jokes into something else altogether. He’d always been possessive and overprotective. It had been endearing at one time. Never in a million years could I have known how deeply rooted his issues were.

Never could I have imagined that a few simple words from me, uttered in jest, would end in horror.

I’d come for answers, and I’d gotten them. Levi had been right. I should have trusted my gut. There was no reason to do this to myself.

I shoved from the table and stood. Morgan’s cool gaze swept up. His relaxed manner was ominous in itself. “I don’t expect you to understand. Your heart has always been soft. I love you, Jason. That hasn’t changed. It never will. You’ll understand in time. You’ll see the gift I’ve given you.”

I stared at the stranger in orange, letting each word he spoke roll over me. I could have argued and fought and said all the things that had burned and raged in my core for a year and a half, but it wasn’t worth it.

I left. The cold clang of the metal door slamming behind me echoed with finality.

In the parking lot, Levi leaned against his SUV, tapping away on his phone. The moment he heard me approach, he lifted his head. When our eyes locked, all the resolve I’d managed to maintain as I’d found my way back outside dissolved. My legs turned to liquid. Staggering forward, I stumbled and tripped.

Levi jumped into action, catching me as I collapsed against his chest, heaving, unable to catch my breath. The loss, guilt, shame, horror, disbelief, all of it surfaced at once, overwhelming me and taking me down.

I clung to Levi’s shirt, sobbing against his neck and shivering from renewed shock.

Levi squeezed me tight and sighed. “You idiot. I knew this would happen.”

I hated this lack of control, and Levi knew it.

When I regained my composure, I shoved away and turned my back, batting at my eyes. “I feel sick.”

“I know.”

“I feel so stupid.”

“You’re not.”

“This is all my fault.”

Levi wrenched me around and got right in my face. “This is not your fault. Do not for a second go there. Do not let him get in your head like that. Do you hear me? This is on him. Morgan killed those men, not you.”

“But I—”

“No. Stop right there.” He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. “You are not to blame for any of this. You are a victim. You. Are. A. Victim.”

He could say it until he was blue in the face. I didn’t think I would ever believe him. None of this would have happened if not for me and my stupid sense of humor or my thoughtless words tossed out in jest. How was I supposed to know?

Levi shook me again. “Jason. Jason, stop it.” He patted my cheek, and only then did I realize I was drifting away, zoning out like I was prone to do lately. Dr. Mosconi had called it something. I couldn’t remember. Something about self-preservation or escape.

I blinked, clearing the haze and peering into Levi’s concerned face. “I’m so tired.”

“I know. How about I take you home?”

Home. The word grated and stung. I closed my eyes. One week and I wouldn’t have to be surrounded by any of this anymore. One week and I could get in my car and leave it all behind. I prayed it didn’t follow me.

“Shit.”

Levi’s harsh tone ripped me from the pleasant daydream of escape. I popped my eyes open and followed his gaze. A