Page 37 of Pucking Snowed In With My Ex

“So you know what he did?” She nodded as she wiped away more tears. “Good, I wanted to tell you.”

“But you knew Alex would release whatever he had, and you couldn’t take the chance.” She nodded. “Fuck, I’m so mad at myself. I wish I could go back to that night. I believed you wanted to be with him.” I slowly shook my head. I’d walked in on the love of my life being assaulted and assumed the worst. “I’m the one who is sorry.” I cupped Skye’s cheeks. “I’m so unbelievably sorry. I could say it every day for the rest of our lives, and it still wouldn’t be enough. I can’t even imagine what you went through and then dealing with this alone. Me leaving and everyone thinking that you chased me off.” I shook my head, knowing exactly how anyone that had any inclining about her and Alex would’ve acted.

Skye placed a finger on my lips. “Don’t. We were kids, and I’ve thought about that night a lot. More than I ever wanted to, but the thing is, I knew Alex was acting strange. He’d been odd when we all hung out, and I didn’t listen to my instincts. My gut kept saying not to trust him, but I’d known him almost as long as you.” She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I’m not saying I deserved what happened, just that when I was on my way to the bathroom, and he magically appeared, I knew what he’d done and….” She sighed and rolled her shoulders. “The point is, I can’t say I would’ve thought any better of you if roles were reversed. I was always so scared that you would leave me for someone else that if I walked in on you like that, I would’ve thought and done the same thing.”

“That doesn’t make any of this okay.” I turned her head slightly and swallowed down the next wave of rage as I stared at the distinct fingerprints on her neck.

“It will be. We have a second chance to take back our life together. If you want to, of course,” she said, her pale cheeks turning pink as she blushed.

“That’s not even a question. Of course, I want to. I wanted to before I knew the whole story.” Love coursed through my body as I gently kissed her lips. Skye wrapped her arms around my neck, and I picked her up so I could sit and hold her in my lap.

“I want to go to the police. I need Alex locked up forever,” Skye said, and I swallowed, not sure how she would take this.

“We can’t go to the police,” I said, and she lifted her head from my chest and looked at me, confusion dancing in her eyes. “We can’t…because Nathan and Aaron are going to take care of him,” I said, and her brow furrowed. I cleared my throat. Speaking about Wayward to anyone who didn’t attend was frowned upon, but moreover, most couldn’t understand what it was like.

“They have the money and the connections to ensure he disappears forever. He’ll be locked in a cell where they do far worse than throw away the key. The school I went to when I left is only for the children of the most powerful crime families and their associates.”

“Like the Cartel?”

“Like all of them. I met Nathan and Aaron at Wayward, and trust me when I say we’ll never see Alex again.”

“How did you end up at a school like that? You never got in trouble with the law or anything.”

“Ohh, that is a long story for another time. Let’s just say I’m really happy I met them.”

She nibbled her bottom lip, and I didn’t know what I would do if she said she wasn’t comfortable. I wanted Alex tortured for what he did to her then and for what he almost did to her today.

“And Sammie?”

“I know a few people who can help get all that information wiped for good.”

She slowly nodded.

“Does it make me a bad person that I don’t care what they do to him,” Skye asked.

“If it does, then I’m a bad person too because I could care less. He tried to take you from me twice and almost succeeded. I could never live with him walking away from charges and prison on a random technicality or spending a handful of years in jail when he should be locked up for life.” I hugged Skye tighter. “No, it definitely doesn’t make you a bad person.”

“Here you go,” Tyler said as he stepped into the living room and held out my coffee.

“Thanks for everything, man.”

“Don’t mention it.” He looked at Skye and then me. “The two of you are family, and I’d do anything for you.

“Thank you, Tyler,” Skye said as I held out my knuckles for him to bump.

“I’m going to see how they’re making out, and then I think it’s time the rest of us get out of your hair.”

“But, it’s Christmas day, you shouldn’t leave. Like you said, we’re family. We haven’t even had breakfast yet,” Skye said, and my awe of her shot up again. How she could think or worry about everyone else after what just happened was a wonder to me.

“Don’t worry, Sugar. I have something I want to take care of, and besides, you two should have today for yourselves.” Skye pushed out her lip in a little pout. “Trust me, we won’t starve, and I’m sure we will see each other again soon. Besides, I need to show you how much better my team is than Cal’s.”

I laughed. “You wish.”

“I don’t need to wish. I have the power of truth on my side,” Tyler said, laughing as he walked out the door.

“He is such an ass,” I said jokingly. “Do you want to shower and start this Christmas day over again?”

“A million times, yes.”