Sinner's Revenge (Sinner's Creed MC #2)(53)

I’m anxious by the time she arrives. I haven’t seen her in days and when she walks in, I feel the full impact of the saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” She’s all business in a white pantsuit and matching heels. She looks stunning, but tired and overworked.

“Rough day at the office?” I smirk, grabbing her duffel from off her shoulder. Pulling her down with me, we sit in our usual position in the recliner. She kicks her heels off, rubbing her feet up and down my jean-clad leg.

“Something like that . . . You?” She nods her head toward my laptop and the scattered papers around it I’d planted just for her to see.

“Nah . . . just being a nerd.” We watch a couple of westerns, enjoying the silent company. But after a while, I know I can’t postpone it any longer.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I tell her, feeling her head nod into my chest. “I’m not coming back.” Slowly, she drags her head up until she is looking at me—searching my eyes for humor, or doubt, or any other emotion that’s not truth.

“Where are you going?” she whispers. I close my eyes, memorizing the sound of her voice—something Dirk did when he knew Saylor was soon going to leave him.

I cradle my hand around her face, whispering back to her. “I just have to go.”

She shakes her head. “But I don’t want you to go.”

Fuck.

“I live a really messed-up life, Diem. There is a lot of darkness and pain. I cause a lot of that. But I’ve never regretted it. Never felt bad about the people I hurt.” I swallow, letting Rookie’s definition of me resurface in my brain. “I’m not a forgiving guy. I don’t have remorse for my actions. I’m selfish and reckless and tarnished.”

“But you’re not like that with me,” she cuts in, her body curling deeper into my side.

I smile. “No. I’m not.”

“Why?”

At first, I’m not sure what to say. But something is happening inside me. I’m overwhelmed with a feeling. A feeling so intense that it stretches my heart to the point of bursting. My chest expands with pride as the knowledge registers in my brain. I love her. I already knew this, but for the first time, I really believe it. Love is a feeling that cannot just be felt, it has to be expressed—it has to be said, and my throat burns with the desire to tell her. So, I do. Without hesitation.

“Because I love you, Diem.”

She melts in my arms from relief. It’s like she’s been waiting for me to tell her this—like she needed to hear me say it to reassure her that this is the same feeling she has too. Her eyes become shiny with unshed tears as she gazes up at me with a look of longing. This is a Diem I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve ever seen her like this. And it will be the last.

“I love you too,” she breathes, and I can relate to her feeling of relief. She’d just changed my whole f*cking life with three little words.

She loves me.

And suddenly, that’s all that matters.


*

I made love to Diem after that. We were the picture-perfect, Hallmark-card couple for the remainder of the night. But now it’s morning and I have to leave. And that sweet couple from last night is long gone.

“I’m not cooking shit. I’ve done told you that.”

“Babe,” I coo, grabbing her around the waist in the kitchen.

She stomps my foot, causing me to release her before unleashing her wrath on me once again. “What did I tell you about those pet names? If you’re hungry, eat some cereal.”

“We don’t have any milk,” I spit through my teeth, hopping around the kitchen on one foot.

“Well then take us out for breakfast.”

“Fine, I will,” I snap. And I do.

“So,” she starts, picking at her eggs. We’re in the Hillsborough Diner, in our same booth, and she has barely touched any of her food. “You’re really leaving.” I nod, staring at her, but she avoids my gaze. “I meant it when I said I didn’t want you to leave.”

“I meant it when I said I love you,” I tell her, offering her a smile when she raises her big dark eyes to mine.

“I know. I just don’t understand. Is this really good-bye?” I look away, watching as Rookie pulls into the parking lot. He’s here . . . ready to take me to my doom.

I reach across the table, taking her hand in mine. She looks at our fingers, entwined together. “Look at me, Diem.” She does and I can see the hurt and confusion there, and I hate it has to be this way. I hate that I hurt her. And that I lied. “If things were different, I’d spend the rest of my life arguing with you. I’d let you cook me shitty eggs every morning.”

She smiles, shaking her head. “You know that will never happen.”

My smile dies when I realize that it won’t. “In another life, I could have made you happy. Really happy. I’d have done things different. I’d have made you my queen.” Rookie’s horn sounds and I know if I don’t leave now, we’ll miss our flight.

I stand and grab my bag. Handing her the keys to my truck, I shoot her a wink. Then, I leave her with my signature good-bye . . . the last one she will ever hear from me. “See ya around, pretty girl.”





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