Read The Runaway Viper (Viper #2) for Free Online

running it just fine.” I can tell he’s sincere with what he’s telling me. “Ask Eli tomorrow, but I do think you need to take tonight and enjoy the start of your life with Jace.”
    I listen to what he had to say and turn back to the bed. My future is literally bestowed in front of me and now it’s do or die. I pick the dress up. It’s just a plain white maxi dress with minimal beaded embroidery around the waistline. It’s similar to the one I wore once, but it has more of the glamour that The Viper Rooms showered me in. I feel like this will be my initiation into a new life.
    “Can I do this to him?” I question. I want nothing more than to be Mrs. Mason, but I don’t know if I can force him into a life where he doesn’t even get time with his family.
    “What, marry him?” he jokes with me. “He could do a lot worse.” I look up at that admittance. “Joely, there is a man downstairs who wants to marry you. Not tomorrow, or in six months, but tonight. He wants to make you happy for eternity, and the way he is doing it screams nothing but forever. He is all you need to worry about now. He is your future, so you either take that option or live with the other.” He sighs as he steps down from his soapbox. “I know which one I would choose.”
    With a heavy sigh I slump onto the bed, spreading the dress out across my lap so not to wrinkle it. This isn’t a catch-22 I am caught up in, this isn’t a deal with the devil - this is about perfecting my future for what I want. When Josh sits beside me, I spend a moment reflecting before I truly allow him to see what Jace means to me.
    "When I first joined that club I had nothing to lose. Now, I have everything to lose." I drop the dress so I can wring my hands together in trepidation. "No one knows how soulless I felt. It's the only way I know how to describe it. I had no conscience, no idea of my own wellbeing, no heart, no sense, no feeling." I look at Josh. "Then I met Jace, and I felt absolutely everything . Can you see why I worry I might lose it?"
    He merely nods but remains stoically silent.
    “I used to love my title in that damn club. I used to love being a teacher’s pet to Clara. I was awarded for my self-negligence.  I had it all at my feet, but it wasn’t until Jace step foot in that club, that I realized I was missing a vital part of me.” I look at him, keeping my eyes solidly on his. “I was missing my soul. I guess after Dylan, I just survived to make it through a day at a time. I didn’t realize how I was just living for the sake of it.”
    “Well now is the time to stop.” Reaching into his pocket, I see him draw out a purple velvet jewelery bag and hand it to me. "Dylan wanted to save it for your wedding day. It's something I've known about since we were kids. Our grandmother gave it to him for his future wife, but he was adamant you'd be wearing it."
    I say nothing and tip the back so its contents slip out. I’m met with a dainty bracelet, silver gold, with diamonds woven into the tennis style band. I remember seeing this years ago when we were just kids. His grandmother never took it off. I know the significance, and I feel pain lance through my chest.
    "I really wish he were here," I comment and offer a watery smile.
    “But if he were, we would have never had the opportunity to see you meet this man who loves you with all his heart.” There’s remorseful serenity to his voice. We both wish the same things were possible, but if we had Dylan, I wouldn’t have Jace.
    Neither of them come together. It’s one or the other, and that is a sorry default. I can’t be greedy and have both, I have to live with one and survive without the other.
    “This is meant to be,” Josh remarks, facing up to the fate we’ve both been dealt. “Now you’ve got your something borrowed,” he points out. “I just wanted you to have a little piece of him here today of all days.”
    “Thank you.” I appreciate it for a moment then slip the