The Prodigal Son by Alice T. Boone

I MADE YOU FEAR ME, SO WHY DO YOU STILL NEED ME?

It’s been six years since you last loved me, Rachel. I’m not the same man I was. My old man crushed what little happiness I had, and the cocaine took the rest. I turned into a shell, hungry for blood and walking the line between this world and the next. When my father got locked up, all I could do was run away with my tail between my fuckin’ legs. So why do you still need my help?

All I’m capable of is hurting you, dragging you down into my personal hell. I can’t save you from Damon. I could hardly save you from myself.
But then, that’s never kept you away before.
I’ve never been able to turn you down, never been capable of winning this war with you. Beg me and I’ll return to the city that hates me. Swear to me that you’re still mine and I’ll kill the swine that’s tried to take my place. But don’t make me fall in love with you.

I won’t survive that hurt.
Not again.