Second Chance-In the mist Book 1 novel Chapter 44

"I'm sorry, Rebecca..." But the regrets were so late. The damage was already done. 

Rebecca, wasn't it nice how it sounded, and then again with so much pain? It was the first time I'd heard him call me by my first name, and in that tone, but instead of a warm and loving feeling, it was a sad one that I didn't expect to hear at a time like this.

"Get out!" I shouted in rage.

"Rebecca, please!"

"I said get out!" My soul was crying and I couldn't understand exactly when I felt things for him. The moment I couldn't get him out of my mind. 

I was trying hard not to stare into his eyes as I knew he regretted it the moment he said it, but I would allow no one, not even Dominic Stone, to step on my morality. I didn't meet his eyes for fear that I would have begged him to stay with me, to hold me and protect me from all those who would want to harm me. There was this fear that I might tell him how I felt, that I might throw myself into his powerful arms, listening to his heartbeat as I once dreamed. Instead, I watched him walk away. I wanted to tell him so much more, to shout all my pain in his face. I could see he was in pain, but in the end, it was his fault.

Closing the door to my house was like closing a

I collapsed on the hallway floor, clutching my legs to my chest and, in that silence, counting my heartbeat. They were rapid and chaotic, just like my entire existence since I met him. Tears threatened to fall, but I lifted my head to the ceiling to stop them from falling. I forbade myself to cry over anything. I was strong. People looked up at me and saw me as an example. I had to stay that way. I couldn't allow myself to become vulnerable. Not even when it came to love. But despite my toughness, I've never experienced such pain that effectively sliced me in half. Regardless of my fiancé's death, another kind of grief, all that just happened, turned into fear of never seeing Dominic again. 

I AM ALL EARS

Dominic's story

"Hey, man, you got some free time?" I turned to Declan, probably the only one close to me who could advise me at this point. Especially since he'd discovered things about Tom, too. Declan knew about my alter ego and also knew about my other life. So, a chat with him was most welcome. I also considered that he deserved to know my entire history. All about Tom and what he had to do with my family. He didn't deserve to be kept in the dark, especially since he was my friend. 

I could have talked to Nick, but he was out of the country. 

"For you, always," he returned my answer, but a little more worriedly. Maybe the tone of my voice had changed too, and that was definitely after my last conversation with Rebecca. 

"If you're on shift, I'll leave you to it, and talk to you later." 

"Hey man, I'm not playing. I'm really in trouble. Look, because you're my friend, I'll tell you a story. Maybe you can help me understand and move on. And maybe even explain myself." 

"A story? Whose story?" He was already getting intrigued.

"Mine, Declan, mine." 

For a few seconds, there was silence. Only the wind was still gently blowing through the flowers in the garden, spreading their fragrance. 

"Okay, I'm all ears!" 

"This story won't be easy to listen to," I began the narration and could see the grimace on Declan's face change with each word. "No one knows this but me. I'm going to ask you to let me finish first and then any questions you have I'll answer, okay?"