Chapter 439
Chapter 439
Reese had gone completely silent behind me. He stood at the foot of the bed, arms stiff at his sides, eyes locked onto his brother as though baking away
might shatter him.
I reached Roman’s bedside and lifted my trembling hand, brushing my fingers over his cheek. “Hi, my love,” I whispered. I miss you so much p>
His skin was smooth beneath my touch, just as it always had been, but colder than it should’ve been. The chill seeped into my bones, and I swallowed hard against the sob threatening to escape,
“How did this even happen?” Reese asked suddenly. His voice was tight and strained like he
was holding himself together by sheer force of will.
Tears blurred my vision.
“I didn’t mean to,” I said, my voice breaking. “It was Julius’s fault. He wanted to shoot my mom. I didn’t know Roman was in the way.” I shook my head, breath hitching. “We were both holding the gun. Julius and I p>
Reese’s jaw clenched, his face hardening into something dangerous. “Who fired the gun?” he asked. His eyes never left Romani.
I opened my mouth–then closed it.
“1… I don’t know,” I admitted helplessly. “Everything happened so fast. We were both struggling. My finger was on the trigger, but–you know I’d never hurt Roman. Not intentionally p>
“I know,” Reese said immediately.
The words loosened something inside me.
I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, relief washing through me. I didn’t think I could survive Reese hating me on top of everything else.
I reached for Roman’s hand, lifting it gently and pressing it against my cheek. His fingers were limp in mine, unresponsive.
“I’m so sorry,” I sobbed. “I wish I could go back. I never would’ve pressured you. I never would’ve let you go there. I never would’ve dropped the gun. I never would’ve fought Julius. ” My shoulders shook violently. “I’m really sorry, Roman,” I cried. “I love you. I love you so much p>
The words poured out of me–raw, unfiltered, desperate. I didn’t care that Reese was there. I didn’t care how I looked. Shame had no place here.
All that existed was the man lying before me and the unbearable knowledge that I had played a role in putting him there.
“I’m sorry, ” I whispered again and again. “Please forgive me. I hope you will forgive me p>
I don’t know how long I cried.
Time blurred, stretching and folding in on itself until eventually my sobs slowed, exhaustion dulling the sharpest edges of my pain. When I finally lifted my head, Reese was still standing there.
His eyes were red–rimmed now. But they still never left Roman.
I leaned down slowly and pressed my lips to Roman’s forehead.
1/2
Chapter 439
Then his cheek.
This nose.
His closed eyes.
My hands trembled as I gently pulled the oxygen mask down just enough to kiss his lips.
“I’m so sorry, my love,” I whispered against his mouth. “I love you so much. I’ll always love you p>
Tears spilled freely, dampening his lips as I kissed him again and again and again and again, desperate to imprint myself onto him. To remind him, wherever he was, that I was still here.
Carefully, I replaced the oxygen mask and laid his hand back on the bed, lingering for a moment before straightening.
“Savannah,” Reese said quietly. “Can you give me a minute… alone with my brother p>
I nodded, wiping my tears. “Of course p>
I squeezed Roman’s hand one last time before turning toward the door. But the final image burned itself into my mind.
Reese had dropped to his knees beside the bed. His shoulders shook violently, his head bowed low, and even without hearing a sound–I knew.
He was crying.
And I closed the door softly behind me, carrying the weight of both brothers‘ pain with me into the hallway.
This was all my fault.
Comments
♡ 2
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.