The Virtue We Lost (EVERMORE Book 4)

Rain pours down, matching the gray, heavy sky above the cemetery. Men

lower the coffin while Club members toss handfuls of dirt like daggers,

each clump stabbing deeper into my chest.

Connor and Cole rest their hand on my shoulder, a steady presence, but

Cole’s touch feels different.

His touch is a constant reminder. It’s my fault.

The burden of my actions weighs heavily upon me, each consequence a

reminder of my choices.

His expression is the most defeated I’ve ever seen. He blames himself too.

Part of me blames him, too.

And I know this guilt, this agony, will never leave me.

Taylor struggles against the weight of what’s happening. She’s too young

to grasp everything and understand why this is final. Zane tries to hold

her, but she’s writhing and crying out.

“No!”

Zane’s eyes are full of pain as he hands her over to Ashley. “Zane, honey,

I'm going to take Taylor to calm down,” Ash says softly, cradling Taylor.

She clings to Ashley’s clothes, shaking.

“Why are they putting Daddy down like that? He needs to breathe. What

if they're wrong?” Taylor’s voice is high, scared.

“Tay, he's gone,” Zane says, his voice breaking, and I see Ashley’s eyes

well up with tears, the pain reflecting mine.

It’s a pain I caused. I can’t cry. I don’t deserve to.

He’s gone.

And it’s my fault.