Three Years, One Cruel Lie

, its body still warm. A tiny, final whim

' t move, couldn' t bre

s Distinguished Service Medal. The highest honor an NYPD detective could receiv

sed it as

ice shaking with a rage so profound i

into Jaxon' s arms, sobbing hysterically. He held her, m

ned, Alina?"

uzzing. "I d

It was my medication. The "vitamins" Jaxon had been giving me. "I found thi

e cracking. "I would never... J

and shot out, grabbing my wr

lina," he said, his

laugh. A wild, unhinged sound that made

ter," I heard

y calm. "And I will not apologize. Now, te

ye. "Or did you use my father

. He glanced down and saw the medal. Hi

collar. "It' s just a piece of tin," she sneered, holding it out to

arcing through the air, and landed with a soft splash i

aid, her eyes wide

hout a second thought, I scrambled over the ra

ping against the muddy riverbed, searching blindly. I was about to give up, my lu

hand. On the terrace, Jaxon wasn' t looking at m

saying, his voice soft. "I made

turned into a

e. It was for her. His grand ro

g, a crushing weight that made it hard to breathe. I regretted ever loving him. I reg

the railing, his face a mess of confusion and guilt.

. I managed a weak smile. My voice was a raw rasp. "Tell me, Jaxon.