Never Let Go

ES

way with a man. Who was he? Her boyfriend? Brother?

off the thought. My phone rang, br

eed my stuf

t for the warehouse. "Get the bag

andshake. "Hey, man, you

"Is everyt

drugs. I sampled it, sat

e papers,"

phing the documents, I sen

e, I headed home, ar

drugs from my drawer, licking the

e high, my mother's

u sign a contract with Jane's bout

own this busin

you forgotten your addic

the papers. "These pro

p. I took a deep breath, waited, an

t time, I st

I com

the underground fight club. There, I could u

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pponent. We exchanged blows, each landing with a sicken

t money and headed to Jane'

mories flooded back. I took a

d Jane's eyes widened.

pressed my lips to

est. I tightened my grip, deepening the kiss. Her

ness. My darkness stirred, but I re

welling in her eyes. Her chest heaved, and her vo

and I stepped back, e

-

ed face. Her chest rose and fell with each ragged bre

within me receded, replaced by an unfamiliar tenderness. I

rve of her lips, the sparkle in her tears, the flush on h

er jaw. Jane flinched, but I held still, my fingers grazing

t...

emotions I'd long suppressed. Empathy, compassion, and som

eyes, seeking answers to questions I dared not ask. Why

the soft strands. I reveled in the silky

the two of us, suspended in t

-

E'S

ovice in intimate encounters, fear gripped me. I

at happened to your face?" I

anor relaxed. "I came to s

and returned to him. "Are yo

his gaze. "I like yo

trangers. Three days aren

a stranger to you, but you've been mine si

his face. "Three days aren't

been watching you since

shock. "Have you

ed, honest

s in love with me, and he's been stalking me

I felt his hand

a stranger to me," I said,

k me anything. I'll answer. W

t know what love is. Outside, there's onl

like that. I'll keep my distance, respecting you, Jane. Will you t

I will decide if I would love you or not. " He fold his arm and said, "It's like you are doing a business deal. " I smiled and replied, "I am a complicated person Miles and I don't want to engage with a person who is more complicated than me. " He nodded and said, "I will be best for you. You

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