Page 114 of Heartbreaker

Because I’m on babysitting duty.

It’s a school night, Atlas and Briar are on a business trip, Aspen is at The Sapphire Room, and Banks is on the road with the Vipers.

Dash is with a client who may or may not be Jade.

And I’m here with Frankie.

Normally something I love.

Uncle time is precious and yet…

I could bring her with me on the plane and be back in time?—

Right. Now I’m thinking not only like a pathetic asshole, but also like a bad godfather. I have responsibilities here. I can’t justbustle a three-year-old to the City of Sin so I can fix things with Jade.

IfI can even fix things.

It hadn’t occurred to me until much later.

Fuck you, Royal Ewing.

She cursed at me.

Not that I didn’t deserve it. I sure as shit did, and far more.

ButJadehad cursed.

NotFrack you, Royal Ewing.NorScrew you, Royal Ewing.Not evenFudge you, Royal Ewing.

Certainly noRoyal Pain-in-the-butt.

But the full shebang.

And I hate that part of me knows what it represented—I hurt her so deeply that I broke something in her.

I grip the edge of the counter and drop my chin to my chest, my exhale long-suffering.

I’m no good for her.

I should leave her alone.

I should?—

No.

I lift my head, reach for my phone again.

I’ll find her.

I’ll make it up to her. I won’t fuck up again.

How, asshole?

It’s Colt’s voice in my head.

How will you show her that she’ll be able to trust you again?

Therapy’s a given. I need to stop with this shit, with the anger that makes me lash out at the people I love.