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one simple truth. He was dying. He was old and had done his time. But with his death, one of last living tangible reminders of her father would be gone. He had been the one to give her Sammy as a pup. They had spent hours running along Hampton‘s shores together and Sammy had delighted in giving her father kisses. When David Clarke had been taken by the police, Sammy was given to Jack—who had done a fabulous job taking care of him—up until now.
teaching me about loyalty and friendship. Thank you for teaching me how it‘s okay. You go now, okay? You go play. We‘re right here.‖
These were words that Emily wanted to say yet couldn‘t. She had to keep her cover. She wanted to blurt out to her first love her real identity, that she had never forgotten him or Sammy. Silently, Emily thought out her own goodbye to her beloved dog, the one with whom she had been robbed of memories. I’m sorry Sammy. I am so Though trained to turn sorry we didn’t run on off her emotions, Emily the beach more often. could not blink back the I’m sorry I was there to tears any longer. She was see you grow up into the not a heartless woman big boy you are today. only bent on revenge as But Jack took care of you—thank you for some, had they known her true identity, would taking care of him for have surmised. She had me. Thank you for feelings. She still knew watching out for him, grief and loss. All of her for being his best friend life had been about loss. and helping him through some of the Beside her, Emily heard toughest moments of his Jack talking to the dog. life. I bet you were a ―Sammy, thank you. comfort after his dad Thank you for being died, since I couldn’t do such a good friend, such it. Thank you for coming a good listener and for back here, Sammy. Back making me smile. Every to the home where we day, even on the worst of lived with Dad. You them. Thank you for knew, didn’t you? You
knew my real identity and you wanted to say goodbye. Now you can go, Sammy. And if you see Dad, tell him I love him. Tell him I will always honor his memory and I’ll always be his little girl.
Jack needed her. Their lips met in a kiss, a kiss that spoke of chemistry, try as they might to deny it.
The kiss deepened. She knew she it would be better to pull away now, but she couldn‘t. Her ties Emily and Jack looked at to Jack were as tight as each other. Sammy had those to her departed drawn his last breath; father. She could be his yellow body had no Amanda Clarke right now—a girl who was more life or fight left in it. Nor did Jack, it grieving with a friend appeared. He reached over a beloved pet. She for Emily and she held didn‘t have to be Emily him. She stroked his Thorne. No one was dark hair as tears flowed. around to see her open There was no denying up and reveal her true the bond between the side. For a few moments, two of them. How could she could be free from Jack not know that she, revenge. Emily, was really Amanda? Here in Jack‘s arms, everything felt… Jack raised his head and looked at Emily, his eyes Oh so right. ♥ full of grief and longing. He‘d already professed his love to Emily once recently—and she had turned him down. To have accepted would have meant she was turning her back on her vendetta, on her mission of clearing her dad‘s name. But here, in this moment, with no one around, Emily felt her self-made walls crumble.