Chapter 50

3 months later.

Riley stood with her back to him watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. She was waist deep in the water, allowing the gentle waves to lick against her tanned body. Dark chocolate hair was pulled high on her head in a ponytail. Her arms were wrapped protectively around herself. He could see her black chipped nails splayed against the skin of her back on either side. The thin black strap of her bikini halter trailed down between the angel's wings of her tattoo. She was so fucking beautiful it made him ache deep inside.

He wanted to smile, but he couldn't. Eventually they would get there. But for now, his chest ached too much at how serious his gorgeous girl had become. He almost always knew to find her outdoors at this time of day when he came home from work. Claustrophobia was probably the biggest side effect to her ordeal. He calmly dealt with it by clearing out the local pharmacy of all their sunscreen so she could spend as much time outdoors as she needed. She