Five Years, A Fading Love

the one who cleaned up his messes. Everyone thought I was in love with him. They were wrong. I did it all

on, ready to finally grieve in peace. But that very night, Grafton's cruel

d the car, waking up in a hospital bed. Grafton accused me of doing i

ushed her, shoving me against a wall s

lass after glass of whiskey he was deathly

To prove his love for Cherrelle, he put me on t

ell to honor a dead man's las

the bridge where Justen died. I sent Grafton one

ing left to liv

pte

ayla Bass was Grafton Mcleod's shadow. For five years, she was more

nd once even took the blame for a car wreck that was his fault. She was

office gossip for years. They believed she would be by his side forever, a permanent fixture in the s

l to

resig

alist office, were a bomb detonating in the

ompany's legal counsel, choked on his coffee. H

? Cayla, are

page letter on the polished desk. "My contract is fulfilled. A

fice, her footsteps even and unhurried. The entire floor seemed to

ag or book a flight. She took a taxi to the q

fore a black m

EN P

ng man with a smile that could light up a room. He had the same sharp jawline and intense eyes as Gra

broke. A single tear t

voice thick with a sorrow t

I kept my

Five years ago, the screech of tires, the crus

g lights and the smell of gasoline.

ed, his hand finding

ng," sh

ther. Look after him. Just... give h

giving her an out. He was preventing her from drowning in her grief, from following him

man who catered to his every whim, who absorbed every blow meant

was fulfilled. Her own desire, sup

quiet finality in her tone. "I'm so

ready to

harsh, unwelcome int

It's Grafton." His voice was fra

tire body

d. A woman who treated love like a se

ords tumbling out. "Winner takes the coastline road rights

racers; they were criminals, known for their violenc

he even made a conscious decision,

had gathered, their faces lit by the glare of headlights. At the starting line sat Gr

ng from his lips. Cherrelle was clinging to his arm, he

o Cayla. "You came."

this?" Cayla aske

toward Cherrelle. "She said if he wins, she'll

fton on the shoulder. "Don't listen to Brooks, man. Cher

you crazy? Cayla has spent five years keeping you out of

cond, something unreadable crossed his face. Th

rp and cold. "Did you come to watch me crash and bu

her chest, making it difficult to breathe. But s

t up to him. She took th

re you doing?" G

r voice steady. "I'm a better drive

ton. Let her do it. All Cherrelle wants is the

the driver's seat, the leather cool against her skin

g her. He tried to protest, to pull her o

" he yelled, banging on the

eyes calm and empty. She gav

ting fla

. The engine screamed as she pushed it to its limi

around the first bend. He felt a strange, unfamiliar tightness in his chest. He saw

rs, trying to force her off the road and over the cliff. The cr

hing. She drove with

violent shunt, the Vipers' car sent her into a spin. For a hea

deafenin

to the rock face just past

ell over

la emerged, limping. Blood trickled from

y swaying. She pressed the victory toke

aid, her voice b

olled back, and

. He lunged forward, catching he

agile as a bird. A feeling he couldn't name, s

voice laced with a panic h

t Justen's hand in hers. A faint sense of peac