Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Neither Jace nor Steve said a word. They just stared of me.

I lifted my head slowly and asked in a daze, "You don't know?"

I tried to sit up. "Then I'll go find him."

"Rea." Steve pressed me back down. His eyes were red.

I blinked. "What's wrong?"

Jace's voice soft. "Hayden's already gone."

I nodded, "I know..." I forced a weak smile. "I know he's gone... that's why I need to go be with him."

Steve's grip on my hand tightened-hard, almost painful. I looked at him. "You're hurting me."

"Rea..." His voice was rough. "You won't see him again,

I stared at him, something inside me twisting, clawing, breaking. But I shoved it back down. "I can. Just let me go.

"Rea," Steve said again, his voice desperate.

But I couldn't stop. I pushed harder against his grip. "Let me go."

my chest. I had to see him. If I didn't,

Jace snapped suddenly. He hesitated,

I froze.

opening and closing, struggling to make sense of

on my shoulder.

pleading with him. "What

if you need

I couldn't cry. If I cried, it meant I accepted it. And I

Without thinking, I shoved

lying! You're all

grabbed me again, his grip unrelenting. I thrashed,

I lashed out, punching him, but it didn't matter.

a final, desperate move,

didn't even flinch. He

I ran out of strength. My teeth loosened, my hands trembled, and I

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arm. "Please don't be so cruel... Please don't do

have to accept it. Jace

could I accept

men, his breath warm on my skin, his heartbeat pounding in my ears-how could he just be gone? I