Raising her hand, she ran her fingers through my head, massaging my scalp softly. “Sleep now. Everything will be all right. I’m right here with you.”

Heaving a sigh, I flipped our position and placed my head on her chest. With one arm around her waist, I placed her leg over me again.

My home.

With her soft hands running through my hair, soon darkness overtook me into a peaceful sleep I haven’t had in years.

But not before I took an oath to destroy those who wanted to take my home away from me.

Antonio was down. Now it was time to get his partner in crime out of his hole.

SIXTY-EIGHT: ONE DOWN

EMERALD

Sunlight beamed against my eyelids, making me slowly flutter them open. A yawn snuck out of me as I stretched across the bed. The soreness in different parts of my satisfied body bloomed a smile on my lips.

But it slipped as soon as I found the emptiness beside me when my hands searched for his warmth. The sheets were cold enough for me to know he had gotten up a long time ago. It was getting on my nerves not finding him with me in the bed when I woke up in the morning. I craved his body warmth around me and his sultry kisses.

Then memories of last night flooded my mind. My heart clenched with the recollection of his pain and suffering for years. For the crime he didn’t commit.

It was saddening he lived half of his life thinking he was the cause of his father’s death and thought I’d hate him after learning the truth. I wished he told me earlier about his guilt and fear. I would’ve made it clear to him that I wouldn’t leave him, no matter what. I couldn’t. Especially when he was innocent.

I let out a shaky breath, remembering the torment in his beautiful gray eyes. My heart bled for him. I wanted to take all his pain as mine, only if I could.

After knowing the truth, I saw everything from a new angle. My respect and gratefulness for my father went another level higher now. Though it was still shocking to know it was Dad who saved Ace from that tragedy. And he never told a soul about it. On the other hand, my opinion about his mother also changed. No matter how much my heart went out for her, even though I understood her pain and sufferings, I wouldn’t be able to forgive her for leaving Ace and Caleb when they needed her the most. Especially Ace.

I understood she needed an escape from her traumatic life, but she shouldn’t have left her son behind to suffer in the endless guilt and insecurities. He needed her. There was no one to give him emotional support.