Chapter 117 - Thane

I was barely holding myself back from ripping Stretch from her grandmother's arms. I knew I wasn't the only one hurting, but damn, did I need some one-on-one time with my girl. I'd almost put her in the fucking ground.

Only Tag's stubbornness had led to this moment. That and his uncanny ability to walk around fully armed without alerting anyone. I was indebted to him for the rest of our natural-and supernatural-lives.

Shame ate at me. Ripped through the joy of having our girl back. In our arms. Alive.

The only thing I could keep thinking of was my demands to bury her. To put her body under the soil so it would no longer taunt me with the reminders. To have it removed from my sight. My heart. My memories.

I'd known I wouldn't survive her loss. Much like with losing Charlie, I needed to put it behind me as quickly as possible. Shovel as much fake normalcy on top of the yawning cavern of grief and pain as possible so I could continue to put one foot in front of the other.

I