Forever You're Mine (MINE #4)(50)

Falling to her knees, her body shook with a sob. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because there’s too much at stake.”

I dropped to my knees in front of her, reaching for her hands. “Then let me help you.”

She pulled them away, refusing to meet my eyes. “No.”

I wanted to fight. I wanted to beg her not to do this, but I didn’t. She didn’t trust me to share whatever it was tearing us apart. And that hurt more than anything.

So with my heart ripped to shreds, I stood up and walked away from the only woman I ever truly loved.





When we remember we are all mad,

the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.

~Mark Twain





My mind had shifted into automatic. It was the only way I could survive. Because each day without Cannon was like a day without air. There was a black hole in my chest where our hearts once burned. Now it was filled to the rim with cold regret.

It hurt to breathe.

It hurt to feel.

I walked around in a daze most of the time, counting down the days until Winston was finally free. It was the only thing I had to look forward to anymore. The case had garnered a lot of media attention when Winston’s conviction was overturned. There had been journalists and reporters hounding me day and night following his story, especially after one of the guards at the prison sold a photo of Winston in his cell reading.

Facebook and Twitter blew up.

The photo went viral overnight. It was the craziest thing I’d ever seen. Once people heard about his story, the outpouring of support was overwhelming. Even the community that had crucified him years before, protested outside of the courthouse for his freedom. It was so moving. Winston was speechless. And so was I. We never expected anything like this.

I’d almost told Cannon the truth, but I couldn’t risk Alexis doing anything to interfere with my brother’s case. We’d come way too far. I was a big fat coward. Every day I thought of ways I could have handled the situation differently, but then what would have been the outcome? Winston will be home soon and that’s all that mattered right now.

So I was waiting, biding my time until I knew it was safe. I could only pray Cannon would forgive me. And even if he didn’t, then at least he would know I still loved him.

I need him to know that.

Lying to him had been hard enough, but watching him walk away might have been the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. I would never forget his wet eyes or the anguish and pain in his voice.

My plan for today was to stay busy so I didn’t have to think about it. I started a load of laundry, had a cup of coffee and got ready for the day.

I ran a few errands in town before I stopped at the gas station to fill up. I was pumping gas, mindlessly going through the motions when I looked up and saw him parked on the other side of the pump. My heart hammered in my chest, our eyes locking for one breath stealing moment before he turned and looked away. There were only a few precious feet between us, but there may as well have been a million miles.

I would walk each and every one if it led me back to him.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. I watched helplessly as he replaced the pump THEN the gas cap, his jerky movements indicating that I was running out of time. He reached for his door handle when I finally found my nerve. “Cannon, wait!”

The muscles in his back rippled, his head falling forward between his shoulders. He turned around, looking me dead in the eye. The blue eyes that once shone nothing but love now pierced through my heart like an ice pick, sharp and cold. “Fuck you.”

He never gave me a second glance.

My stomach rolled with nausea as he drove away. Getting into my car, I tried not to break down.

I had to remember…this was all her fault.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

I thought Cannon had forgotten his key when he left this morning. I didn’t even look out the window before I flung open the door with a smile on my face, quickly realizing my mistake.

I scoffed, glaring back into her hollow eyes. “What do you want, Alexis?”

“We need to talk,” she said calmly.

“I’m not interested in anything you have to say.”

I moved to slam the door in her face, when her palm met the wood. “Well, I think you should listen.” she leaned forward with a nasty smile on her lips. “For Winston’s sake.”

My skin tingled with unease as I took two steps forward, invading her personal space in order to get her out of mine. Because I’ll be damned if I let this bitch in my house. The screen door slammed with a loud thwack behind us. I crossed my arms, bracing myself for anything.

Reaching for her tiny clutch, she retrieved her cell and after a few swipes and taps, she held the phone out in front of me.

I blinked at first, unsure of what the hell I was actually looking at. “What does you suckin’ some old dude’s dick have to do with my brother?”

Alexis swiped the screen again before showing me a less compromising photo of the man. “Judge Liam Kent.”

“And?”

She tucked her phone back in her purse. “And he loves the things I can do with my mouth.”

It took a second for me to realize what she was implying. Then it took another second for me to wrap my damn head around it.