Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

Abigail’s words to me on Thanksgiving spun in my head, mocking. This was always the end. Even she couldn’t avoid it.

I could feel it, the chains of fate locking into place.

“You can run off with him. Go live somewhere. Forget about Lottie and her unborn child, about the family you just destroyed.” His lips curved as he watched me imagine this future.

All Grayson Crowne had ever wanted was to be a good man, a good person for his family.

I swallowed. “Or?”

“Or we leave Crowne Point tomorrow.”

Fifty-Nine

GRAY

* * *

A rock lifted from my chest when I found Story waiting for me. A dark part of me thought she’d be gone, that fate would have gotten to us.

I ran to her and grabbed her hand, refusing to waste another minute.

“The blizzard is letting up,” I said.

“What about Lottie?” she said. “Your child?”

“I’ll come back once I’ve settled you.” I pulled her to the door.

“Is there going to be something to come back to, Grayson?” she asked.

I stopped. “What?”

“You promised me no more broken promises. You said you wouldn’t give up everything.”

“Who told you?”

“West.”

Rage crawled up my spine. “West was here?”

“He wanted to talk. Is he lying? Are you about to give up everything? Destroy your family?”

“I told you, Story. If it means keeping you alive, keeping you safe, I would do whatever it takes, no matter the consequences.”

She nodded.

I expected her to yell.

Scream.

The silence was more disconcerting. “Why aren’t you upset?”

“You don’t get to be Atlas anymore, Grayson Crowne.”

STORY

* * *

Grayson’s eyes narrowed. “What did you do?” When I didn’t immediately respond, Grayson raised his voice. “What did you do, Story?”