Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

away from me.
How… bizarre.
“I failed you, Sofia!” His outburst brought me back to reality. He looked
through the windows, one hand braced against it as the other laid along his
side. His words confused me.
“What are you talking about?”
He turned around, and for the first time since he came in I could truly see
the exhaustion, the sheer fatigue and frustration and anger in his gaze. All
directed towards himself.
“I failed you and Valentina and it makes me feel so fucking weak. I made
a promise to myself that I would help you get anything you might need. That I
would do everything I could so that you’d feel cared for and appreciated and
— and I couldn't even do my fucking job and find the person who took
everything from you in the first place.” I’d never seen Maddox so dejected,
so disappointed in himself.
“How dare you say that.” Were the words that left my lips as I stared at
him, dumbfounded. “How dare you say that you think you didn’t do all that
and more?”
I put both hands on his chest and pushed him slightly. I wanted to comfort
him in a sweeter way, but I knew he’d take any overly kind gestures as pity.
“Piersons gave me a week to solve a murder I haven’t been able to solve
in months, Sofia! It’s over, I didn’t stay true to my promise, I didn’t give you
and your sister closure. I didn’t avenge you.”
“So what! You gave us a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, you
buy everything around the house and refuse to take my money for anything!
Hell, you said I should quit my job so I could focus more on school,
Maddox!”
“These are material things, they won’t give you closure!”