When Death Couldn't End Our Love

words hung in

ge lung ca

A death

suddenly too loud. I stared at the generic art pri

r much

vintage guitar shop,

ked, no preamble. Chl

sound casual, my fingers

' s back. And ge

phantom limb, an ache

livia Hayes. Daughter of some big-shot developer. Strategic alliance, the caption probably didn'

aw him. At Jo' s Coff

s. New York suit instead of faded jeans. But hi

chingly familiar. Olivia was

heart hammered a st

a went to the counte

tha

anished. Recognition f

id my name lik

me," I said, my voice

looked

His voice was flat, devoid of any w

ing to pretend we

is that your father helped ruin my family. An

er. The scandal that blew their lives apart. His parents' bitter divorce. His fat

iquor store on Sixth Street. He looked like a ghos

lked over. "Mr. Ree

a coffee from the place next door, helpe

, he found me sitting with his

hink you' re doing?" he

ike he needed

ne of your concern. Stay away

voice was low, dangero

ar any of this? Your judgme

k to whatever hole y

e meant to hu

flicker of something unre

hten the collar of his expensive shirt, a gesture I' d done a thousan

f burned. I snat

at each other. A moment of raw,

head, disgust

practically dragg

dive bar where my band used to play. The air was thi

ed its way d

r had said maybe two

miracle. Maybe just

st, stupi

is. Ava Miller, slumming

ab years ago. He looked rough, eyes too bright, a nervous energy about him. He

you want

ng in it, I hear. Maybe you can spare some fo

han. News traveled fast

have any mo

always lands on her feet. Or on her back

. "Come on, just

way, my sk

wded room, I s

dows, watching. His expression was unreadable, but I

e. He saw the kind of c

move. He ju

urned and