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“When this is all over, ould it take for you to agree to a divorce?”

She blinks rapidly and steps back out of my personal bubble She ss and plasters a s like I didn’t just wound her

I hate hurting the mother of my children, but I have to be honest with her I don’t want to divorce her so I can be with Liesel, but I’e up thinking that we are in love, thinking our relationship is what a e is supposed to be I’ll never have Liesel, but I don’t want to keep leading Phoenix on, giving her hope that someday I’ll fall for her I’ll never fall for anyone

“More than you’re willing to give,” Phoenix says

“Money? I’ll give you everything I own Everything that the kids don’t need to survive”

She shakes her head

I set my cup of coffee down and encroach on her space She’s used toto control the situation I take her cup from her hand and set it on the counter behind her Then I take her hands in mine I need her to hear et what she wants from me

“I’ood man, Dunn” She winces when I call her Dunn She prefers I use my last nah we’reher maiden name reminds us both of our relationship

“I take everything and give nothing back I kill without a thought to the sanctity of life And I’ll never love you, Dunn All I’ll end up doing is ruining you”

She ss hard, like shewith me “Then ruin me”

Her lips crash onto ood we are together in bed She’s good because she lets me have my ith her She letsLiesel, there is nothing that will getI thought I could never have, and I won’t go back

I pull away gently, trying not to hurt her, but needing toher, touching her again

My eyes flick to the door, already knohat I’ to find

Liesel

Her eyes are dark, watery, and filled with pain