Page 62 of Road to Absolution

“You haven’t done anything to be sorry for.”

After a pause, I said, “I talked to Justice.”

Eyes that held so much truth popped wide.

“Do you love her, too?” I asked.

Mouth gaping, he finally nodded. “I do, but she and I, we were two slaughtered souls trying to pick up pieces of ourselves that no longer existed. Doomed before we ever had a chance.”

“She loves Giver.”

His mouth closed, but not with jealousy. It was… admiration. “She is literally the only woman I know who can handle and tame that kind of crazy.”

“You’ve met Dick?”

He smirked. “He’s named well.”

My thoughts were scattered. “I have to stay in a bed.”

Sad for me, he nodded. “Yeah, babe, ya do. We have a midwife coming to see you tomorrow in case you have to—Uh, she’s just going to check on you.”

I felt a tear slip from me. “Art?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you going to be mean to my husband, too? Like Tuck?”

His jaw twitched. “How did this happen, Delilah? You. Here. With him.”

I would’ve shaken my head but simply lacked the energy. “I’ve been asking myself that for the last hour.” Another tear slipped from me. “He’s only joining your club for me.”

Artist’s nostrils flared. “And that’s why I’ll be mean to him.”

Ever so calmly, I promised, “I’ll hate you for it.”

He looked away. “Probably for the best.”

My eyes… closed.