Chapter 64 - Ryker

Her broken tears washed me clean. As if she'd brought some bleach and sterilized the memories, I felt lighter. Not so heavy, not so dark. Lighter.

My eyes were dry, so fucking dry. I hadn't cried since that day, I realized. Another thing that bastard had stolen from me.

The memory of Angelo and Domenico weeping in each other's arms ran through my mind again. That's what family should be. They might have ethics as flexible as a Slinky, but their morals and values were hard as granite.

I couldn't understand anything of what she was saying, but her touch and spirit gentled me. Calmed me. Soothed me as nothing ever had in the past.

I'd jostled her in my arms, forced her to grab onto my shoulders. I hadn't been able to ask for her touch there, but I'd needed it. Demanded it.

So we lay there. Two broken people trying to act like we were whole. Our darkness spoke to each other's darkness. They communed together. No brighter for the coming together, but certainly no darker for i