Money Over Everything

Chapter 51

**Note from the Author

"To anyone who's made it this far, I just want to say thank you so much for reading, and I really hope you enjoyed Money Over Everything. There may be a sequel written at some point in the future if there is enough interest. But in the mean time would love to hear some feedback on what you thought about the story!"

**

The boat rocks, knocking a box off the shelf in my room. It jolts me awake and I look around forgetting where I am for a second.

Damien's not here anymore and I feel so alone. So fucking alone.

I lie here, debating if I even want to get out of bed. It doesn't feel worth it anymore. I look over at the box that fell on the floor, it has a red bow.

I sit up intrigued and pick up the box. Where did this come from? Maybe someone forgot it in here?

I turn it over and inspect it, on the one side it says "J". I guess it's for me. I carefully pull on the ribbon and untie it. I lift the top off the small box and look inside. I feel a tear leave my eye as I see what's inside. I take it out and put the box on the ground.

My door opens and I look up, it's Damien.

"I thought I left this behind. How did you get it?" I ask amazed.

"I seen it on your nightstand and grabbed it before we left. I meant to get you a new frame but the gift shop on this boat is terrible."

I laugh and look back down. I've missed seeing this face. I touch my hand to the picture. I miss you so much Jordan. To think that I almost lost the one thing that I had left to remind me of him, and Damien was able to save it. Aside from having Ali here with me, this is the best gift I could have ever asked for.

"Come up to the deck, some fresh air will make you feel better."

He reaches his hand out to help me up. I put the picture down gently and we walk out of the room and up the stairs. The sea air hits me as soon as we get above deck. He was right, this does make me feel a little better. My eyes adjust to the bright sunlight and I look around for everyone else.

Kyler, Tyler, Raiden, and Courtney are sitting around a table talking. I walk up to join them but then I see Chance, he's standing over the railing at the back of the boat. Looking straight back.

"I'll be right back." I tell Damien.

"Are you sure?" He asks eyeing up Chance.

I nod and start walking towards him.

"Hey." I mumble walking up behind him

He doesn't turn around. I stand beside him holding onto the railing and looking back with him.

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." He sighs.

"I'm still sorry."

"Do you think she was able to get away?"

"I refuse think anything else."

"Me too..."

I lean my head against his shoulder, and he leans his head onto mine. We stand there until the sun slowly starts to set.

I hear someone walk up behind us.

"Mind if I steal her from you?"

Chance turns around and nods, he gives me the slightest smile and then walks away.

Damien stands behind me, putting his arounds around me so he can hold the railing. We stand there in silence for a few minutes, just staring out at the water behind us. At the life we've left behind.

I feel him nudge me in the shoulder with something. I look over and it's the book.

"Why do you have that?" I ask confused.

He hands it to me, "I think it's time to do something that we should have done a long time ago."

I open it up one more time and read the last sentence on the inside of the front cover.

Would you choose money over everything?

Those words ring in my head as I think about what this book has cost me. My brother, my best friend, and almost my own life. I'd dump all the money we earned into the ocean if it meant I could get those two back. If I could do it all over again, I would have burned this book with the old warehouse in Crownley.

I hold the book in my hands and slowly move it over the side of a railing, and with one satisfying motion, I drop it.
"Good riddance." Damien laughs.

I watch as it floats further and further away.

For eight years that book dictated my every move. It controlled my entire life, but now, I'm free.

I'm finally free.