She’s going. No, she can’t leave. “I wanted to tell you,” I bellow, righting myself and staggering after her. “But you had to be your usual difficult self.” I have nothing else to help me, my loyal vodka betraying me. “How can you walk away?” I yell, ricocheting off the walls, unable to find any speed or coordination to chase her down, to stop her. “Ava, baby, please!” I catch my foot on the doorway as I exit the bedroom, slamming into the wall on the landing, taking a picture off the wall as I do. I crash to the floor and try so hard to get back up, but I’m all out of strength. The vodka’s done me over this time. Not helped. Not been my friend. It’s hampered me.

I pathetically crawl to the top of the stairs, my throat clogged, making it impossible to call for her again. “Ava,” I mumble, seeing the door slam.

And she’s gone.

Taken my heart with her.

Now I’m just . . .

Empty.

“No,” I whisper, rolling to my back. She was meant to be my angel. My redemption. “Come back, Ava.” I beg. “Please, come back.”

I can’t hear her. I can hear nothing.

Except for the beats of my heart slowing down.

Silence.

Darkness.

I close my eyes.

I hope they never open again.

The End . . . for now

Jesse’s story continues in With This Woman.

This Woman is also available in Audio - read by the incredible Shane East. Take the story to another level. Download from Audible now!

About Jodi Ellen Malpas

Jodi Ellen Malpas was born and raised in England, where she lives with her husband, boys and Theo the Doberman. She is a self-professed daydreamer, and has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Writing powerful love stories with addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers. She’s a proud #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, a Sunday Times Bestseller, and her work is published in over twenty-five languages across the world. You can learn more about Jodi & her words at: JEM.Website

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Also by Jodi Ellen Malpas

The This Man Series

This Man

Beneath This Man

This Man Confessed

All I Am – Drew’s Story (A This Man Novella)

With This Man

The One Night Series

One Night - Promised

One Night - Denied

One Night - Unveiled

Standalone Novels

The Protector

The Forbidden

Gentleman Sinner

Perfect Chaos

Leave Me Breathless

The Smoke & Mirrors Duology

The Controversial Princess

His True Queen

The Hunt Legacy Duology

Artful Lies

Wicked Truths

The Unlawful Men Series

The Brit

The Enigma

The Resurrection

The Rising (Feb 2023)

The Belmore Square Series

One Night with the Duke

A Gentleman Never Tells

This Woman Series

(The This Man Series from Jesse’s POV)

This Woman

With This Woman - Coming 2023

Book 3 - TBC