Page 170 of Temporary Vows

Dad shakes his head. “Nothing to be sorry for. It’s me who’s sorry. For everything. I was too blind to see. It won’t happen again.”

“It won’t because we’ll rebuild together,” Knox says. Levi and Locke nod.

I grin. “As you said earlier, the things built to last are held up by more than ambition. That’s us.”

Dad smiles at me and gives me a proud nod. “Yes, you are. You all are.”

It’s over. The storm is over.

I guess though the one thing I got out of this I would never trade is my Elodie.

The vows I made to her were never supposed to be temporary.

She is my forever.

Chapter 38

Elodie

Iwalk into the visitation room, and my heart lodges in my throat when I see Jack.

He’s sitting on the other side of the table, his wrists bound in front of him and his shoulders hunched like he's trying to fold himself into something smaller. He’s wearing the traditional orange suit I’ve only ever seen on prisoners on TV, and his face is stripped of every ounce of the bravado he wore at dinner three weeks ago.

This is the first time I’ve been able to see him. Sentencing took a week, and he was transferred here a week later. I wasn’t allowed to see him during that time. But there was a whole week when I could have. I just couldn’t face him yet. Honestly, I still can’t.

I’m here because I realized delaying things any longer was gnawing away at my insides. It would only get worse, so I’m here for closure.

I cross to the table with a confidence I don’t feel. Dorian is waiting for me outside the door. His presence is the only thing keeping me going.

Jack meets my gaze as I sink into the metal chair. He knows I know the truth.

The fluorescent light overhead does nothing kind for anyone in this room, but on him, it's brutal. It carves out every shadow, every line of exhaustion, every trace of the fight that's left him.

In the corner across from us stands a guard. His arms are folded across a wide chest, and he’s watching us with the blank indifference of someone who’s seen this scene a thousand times.

Sister visits brother. Sister tries not to cry. Brother pretends he's fine.

I wonder if he knows our story, though, and the seeds of betrayal that got us here.

I press my hands flat against the table to stop them shaking, then I level Jack with a hard stare, uncertain of how I’m going to speak to him. And what I’ll say.

“Thanks for coming to see me,” he says, his voice rougher than I’m used to. It’s strange how I used to take comfort in that voice. I don’t anymore.

“I thought I’d come.” I don’t sound like myself either.

“How’ve you been?”

The question throws me out, although it’s perfectly normal. He’s always asked me how I’m doing within the first few seconds of seeing me. I just can’t stand the question now because of the situation.

“How do you think I’ve been Jack?” I drag in a deep breath.

He lowers his head for a moment, then lifts it, tentatively. “It was a stupid question.”

“Yes. It was. And a little insensitive too, considering you were seeing Clara, never told me you knew where she was, and you knew how much danger I was in.” The sharp bite in my tone is almost palpable. I can’t hold back and I don’t want to. “How did you two even get together?”

“We just sort of happened. I ran into her at a bar. I never told you about her because I didn’t know how you’d react. She wasone of your best friends. And I didn’t know if we were serious enough to cross that line.”

“What about the money?”