“You’re not the one who betrayed us. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“No, I have,” I said thickly. “I’ve done so many fucking things wrong, Ace.”
“You’re Luther’s son, not just my brother,” he said. “And you let me come home even when I didn’t deserve it.”
I shook my head, my gaze on the wide expanse of the ocean ahead of us. “I used to wish sometimes that I was you or JJ, anyone but the one of us who had to carry the burden of ruling within the Harlequins.”
“I used to think I’d give anything to take your place,” Chase admitted. “I wanted to rule, but that wasn’t what I really wanted. I just wanted to be someone. You’re Fox Harlequin.” He spread his hands in front of him. “Prince of the underworld, destined for greatness.”
“It ain’t like that,” I muttered.
“I know that now,” he said seriously. “You always had the short end of the stick, I just thought I did.”
“I think we all drew short,” I said darkly. “I don’t see any one of us winning in this life, do you?”
“No,” he agreed. “Do you think that’s it? You draw a stick and the fate that’s painted on it is the one you’re destined for? Or do you think you ever get a chance to draw again?”
I considered that, not really having an answer, not one that was comforting anyway. “I think the older you get, the harder it is to redraw. Maybe we could’ve once, but now…” I shrugged.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “It’s all too fucked now, huh?”
“Mm,” I sounded my agreement then reached out and pressed a hand to his shoulder.
He clapped his hand to it and we sat like that for several long seconds before we pulled apart and I started the truck.
I turned around and took the road back to the upper quarter before heading onto the highway out of town. We were soon miles and miles away from Sunset Cove and I pulled into a motel at random, driving into the parking lot and pulling up in front of a long stretch of room doors.
I got out of the car, my chest compressing further and further by the second as I grabbed a bag from the bed of my truck filled with some clothes for Chase, a gun and some cash to keep him going for a while. By the time I got around to his side of the car, he was already out and I held the bag up for him. He took it wordlessly, his jaw flexing as he gazed at me like he was trying to memorise my face and I felt a piece of my soul being carved off, falling away from my body with the pain of a sliced open artery.
“I need your phone,” I rasped and he pushed a hand into his pocket, taking it out and handing it to me, but there was an envelope tucked against it too.
“Will you give that to Rogue for me?” he asked, his brows knitting like he was worried I’d refuse but I nodded. “And will you…promise not to read it?”
I sighed, shifting my weight from one foot to the other before I nodded in agreement to that too.
“And one more thing.” He stepped toward me, anxiety warring in his bright blue gaze and all I wanted to do was drag him into my arms and take him home. But I couldn’t, because this was who I was, and this was what happened to traitors. I’d told everyone from day one, the second that cast came off this was how it would be, but fuck did it hurt. Every second I stood there was killing more pieces of me.
“Don’t remember me like this,” he begged. “Remember us as kids. Remember the days we went swimming at the cove and exploring the smugglers’ caves. Okay?”
“Okay,” I gritted out and he turned to leave, but I couldn’t let him. Not yet.
I strode forward, wrapping him in my arms, my hand crushed to the back of his neck and his forehead pressed to mine.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“No, I’m sorry, Fox,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
I nodded, knowing he was but also knowing it was too late to change anything.
“Love her right,” he said in a firm growl, ordering me to obey. “You love her and you give her the best of this world no matter what it costs you, you hear me?”
“I will,” I croaked.
“You can have it all now, all of