I could’ve stopped this. I should’ve been here to stop it. I failed them. I failed Haley, a woman who was just getting used to living free, and her unborn baby. I failed Eagle, our prospect, because he should’ve known more about what was going on with the Russians. And last, my biggest f**king epic fail was to protect the one woman who is going to own my heart forever. The one woman, who brought the sun into my world of darkness.

Never. Ever. Fucking. Again will I feel the warmth of her skin, her lips upon mine, or the way it felt when she ran her small hand up my back so she could cradle her naked skin against mine while whispering into my ear.

I gasp for air before finally calming down.

I turn towards the pool, shrug out of my cut, and dive in. When I come up for air, I reach for Haley, slowly turn her over and cradle her to my chest. I trudge through the water with her lifeless body bobbing against me. My toes hit the bottom step, and I slowly take each one, careful not to jostle her around. It is in that moment, when the crimson red water droplets fall from my skin, that I vow...

To always feel.