Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Axel was already outside the vehicle when I rounded the corner. He’d been leaning against the truck, his phone in his grip. When he spotted me and the bag, he hustled toward me. “Holy shit, you got it?” He relieved me of the bag and set it on the ground. “Turn on your flashlight.”
I pulled out my phone and pointed the light at the bag.
He opened it and looked inside.
“How will you know it’s him?”
“The brand of clothes. His pant size. Stuff like that.” He reached inside and examined one of the boots before he continued to look. Then he pulled out a black watch. He paused to study it like he recognized it. “Yeah, this is him.” He returned the watch and zipped up the bag.
“How are you sure? It’s just a black watch.”
He put the bag in the back of the truck. “Just trust me.”
Axel followed me to Theo’s house after I picked up my car, and we walked in together. He carried the duffel bag at his side then gently placed it on the rug in the foyer. I texted Theo and asked him to meet me downstairs.
My heart was beating so fast. I knew he would be pissed off when he learned what I’d done, but I hoped he would let it go when he realized he finally had what he’d wanted all along.
Theo appeared at the top of the stairs in nothing but his sweatpants. He descended the stairs quickly but leisurely, taking two steps at a time until he reached the bottom. His eyes shifted back and forth between us as the anger moved over his face. “What is this?”
Axel stepped back so I could take the lead.
Theo’s eyes shifted to me then looked down at the bag.
“Don’t be mad, okay?”
Theo stared at the bag, and his breaths started to deepen…like he already knew.
“I—I went to the Brotherhood and found Killian. I know Bolton told you he destroyed his bones, but he would never destroy any form of leverage. They were all busy and didn’t even notice me there. One of the guys helped me locate him in the drawers.”
Theo didn’t take his eyes off the bag, his breaths even deeper now.
“Axel was outside the whole time in case I needed help—”
“You went in there by yourself?” He finally lifted his chin and looked at me. “After everything I did to get you back…”
“Please don’t be mad.”
“I love my brother, but he’s dead. I love you—and you’re still alive.”
“It’s done,” I said. “I’m here, and everything is okay. Please let it go.”
He looked down at the duffel bag again. “I can’t believe you did this…”
I could.
“You don’t know it’s him, and I can’t check.” A thin sheen moved over his eyes, but when he blinked, it was gone.
“It’s him,” Axel said, coming back into the conversation.
Theo shifted his gaze to Axel.
Axel came forward, unzipped the top, and then pulled out the black watch. He held it out to Theo.
Theo stared at it but didn’t take it.
I didn’t know why the watch was so significant, not when it looked like any other watch I’d ever seen.
Theo stared before he finally took it. He held it for a while before he turned it over.
Engraved in the back were the words:
Happy Birthday, Asshole.
Theo sucked in a harsh breath, and his eyes watered more than they had before.
“I’m sorry, man,” Axel said. “But at least…at least you have him back.”
Theo just looked at the watch, trying his hardest not to cry. Then he unclasped the watch he always wore, stuffed it into his pocket, and put on his brother’s watch. He stared at the face for a long time, until his breaths returned to normal, and then he looked at me again.
But now, he wasn’t angry. “Thank you.”
“I hope this brings you peace.”
His eyes remained on me, looking at me harder than he ever had before. “It does.”
Chapter 20
Theo
I stared at the tombstone I’d looked at several times before, but now, it felt different.
It felt different because he was there, buried under the surface, in his final resting place until the sun collapsed on itself and brought this entire world into darkness. The watch on my wrist was heavier than the one I used to wear, but the weight was a reminder he was here. Now, he was buried beside my parents. He probably would have wanted his ashes to be scattered in Positano because no one would miss him when he was gone, but I missed him, and that was why I’d put him here.
Astrid was so quiet beside me, I forgot she was there.
My hand reached for hers.
She squeezed it back.
Bolton was buried in this same cemetery. I didn’t want him and my brother to be in the same place, but I didn’t want it to be inconvenient for either of us when we wanted to visit our families. I wasn’t sure if Astrid would want to visit at all. When she’d come to his grave site, she didn’t cry, and our lives at home weren’t restrained by heartbreak.