Chapter 158

ADLER

He was sober for the first time in months, and it was not because Athena was most likely waiting for him before a church altar but for another reason; he had given hints, but little enough to fly over their heads.

Listening to the chatters coming from downstairs, Adler sighed and looked into the mirror; a fresh haircut and a shave didn't hide that he was a shadow of himself.

The last four months were no easy feat, waking up to the weight that increased with every thought of her. He wasn't sure how he held on. Did he? That wasn't holding on; sending himself through gruesome torture wasn't holding on.

But it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough punishment for being the core culprit of her demise. He was supposed to be there for her. He was supposed to fucking be with her.

He let her go.

Adler turned on the sink and splashed water against his face to keep more awake. He needed to feel every bit of it, every pain, the loneliness, and most significantl