Easton

Okay, now Liam was taken aback. He’d expected to have to nudge them both into this step.

“I love you too. So much,” Scarlett said. “I know it’s crazy for us all, but I want us to make this work. I know we can, with Junior, with each other.” She turned toward him. “What do you think?”

Liam smiled. “You think I’m going to turn down what I’ve been wanting for a long time? I didn’t see it being like this, but this is perfect.”

“Liam, I’ve got one thing to ask you, and then I’ll never bring this up.”

“Go on.”

“Did you have anything to do with my father’s death?” Easton asked.

Liam smiled. “No. I didn’t. I’m not lying. I told you before. I don’t make it a habit of breaking the law, and if I do, it’s not something that will get me thrown away. Believe me, I know how to cover my tracks. I didn’t arrange to have your father killed. I was planning to make his life uncomfortable and looking into his past deeds to get him put in a more secure and locked-down prison, but his death means I don’t have to look into that. Shame. I really wanted to see the look on his face when he was locked in a cell for a longer time with the key thrown away.”

Easton grabbed his hand. “I don’t need that. I only need the two of you.”

“Will you be telling your friends?” Liam asked. “If so, they will have to sign non-disclosure agreements. I don’t negotiate in any other terms. I’m protecting all of us, and I know they’re your best friends, but I need to know you’re safe as well. One day, I will tell you everything as to why it has to be this way. For now, can you accept that it is for your own protection, and not because I’m being a selfish asshole? Friendships come and go, and I don’t want you hurt in any way.”

“I’m not telling them. I don’t want them to know everything about me. I like this. I like that no one can meddle with this, that no one can take it away from me. When I eventually tell them, we’ll have everything in place. I don’t want them to try and talk any sense into me or think they have a right to tell me what to do. I don’t want them to have that kind of power. For once, I do want something that is just all mine, and I don’t have to go to my friends to do it.”

Chapter Seventeen

One month later

The vacation with Scar, Liam, and Junior had been exactly what Easton needed. He’d been trying to find the perfect words to say how sorry he was to Scar for what he’d done in the past. The lies he told her.

The truth was, he’d fallen in love with her against all the odds, and he’d not wanted to lose her.

In having to follow his father, he had no choice but to let go of the only woman he’d ever truly loved.

Now, it was time to move on again. King’s Ridge cemetery was to his left where Carla was buried. It had been some time since he’d been here. The last time, he’d ended up talking to Taylor, and he’d not come back since.

Picking up a single white rose, he climbed out of the car and made his way to where she was buried.

Staring at her name, Easton didn’t feel the pain or the guilt.

“Hey, Carla, it’s me. It’s the fucked-up boyfriend. I don’t know if you can hear me, but I wanted to say sorry for so many things. You shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be dead. In fact, you should be arguing with Taylor right now, or maybe even doing your hair, or any of the list of things you wanted to do. I thought, for a short time, I loved you. In a way, I did, but it wasn’t the love you wanted or needed. This was the kind of love of two friends finding something more, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t enough. I will always regret what I did to you. What I did to all of us. If I could take it back, I would.”

“You can’t take it back.”.

Easton turned to see Taylor with an entire bouquet of flowers.

“Hello, Taylor,” he said. For the first time, he didn’t flinch at her words or the glare she was firing at him.

“You shouldn’t be here. You have no right.”

“I have every right. You can hate me all you want to, Taylor. It’s not going to change the fact I’m happy.”

“She’s dead because of you.”

“Maybe, but I didn’t hurt her. I never hurt her. You seem to be under this impression that you and Carla were tight. You had the whole best friend thing.”