By the time he pulls back, a look of complete satisfaction on his face, people are starting to arrive. I hold my fingers to my tingling lips as the sun starts to dip, casting a warm pink hue over the place, giving it a magical feel.
As the first vehicle pulls in, I stand up, brush my hands against my jeans, and feel oddly nervous. “Why do I feel so scared?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because this place is sacred and you don’t want them to judge it based on what happened here.”
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, there was evil here, so much of it that even standing in the sun, I only felt darkness. But there’s light too. Flowers can’t grow without it after all.”
“Daddy!” We both spin around when we hear Star. She runs toward a shell-shocked Ambros.
“Is she talking to me?” he whispers.
“Yeah, honey, I think she is.”
She collides with his legs, giggling when he swings her up into his arms.
Nevaeh walks over and pulls me into a hug. “So that was new. Look at him. He looks like he’s going to cry.”
And he does, but he also looks so fucking happy, I wish I could freeze this moment for eternity.
“That kid is so damn fast, I don’t know how you keep up with her,” Havoc grumbles, pulling me in for a hug.
“You think maybe you’re just getting old?”
I’ve never seen someone look more offended in my life, which cracks up both me and Nevaeh.
“Hey, Citi.”
I turn and grin when I see Six with Will and King. I hurry over and hug her. “What are you doing here?”
“I was visiting my dad when the call came through. I had to come.”
I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I’m glad you did.” I smile at Will, who smiles back. “It means a lot that you’re both here.”
“Any friend of Six’s is a friend of mine, and I look after my friends.” He squeezes my shoulder before stepping aside toreveal Circus. In his hands is the silver urn holding Capone’s ashes.
My breath stutters in my chest for a minute, looking at it before I look up at Circus’s face.
“You, beautiful, wonderful woman.”
“I didn’t do this. This was all Ambros.”
He shakes his head as if he disagrees. But he says nothing, tugs me in for a hug and a forehead kiss.
“You think he’ll like it here?”
“I can’t think of a place more perfect,” he tells me.
He walks me back over to where everyone else is gathered, watching Star laughing and dancing in the middle of the wildflowers.
She looks beside her and laughs. “Come on, Uncle Capone, dance with us.”
Circus sucks in a sharp breath, his hands shaking as he holds the urn tighter. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
I look at the stone bench. For a moment, I see him as he flashes me a cocky smile before he gets to his feet and starts dancing with Star, who laughs harder. I bite my lip when I hear more laughter—Star’s, but also Capone’s. And if I listen hard enough, I can hear other children laughing, too.
“Yeah, Circus, he’s here.”
He reaches out and wraps his hand around mine. Ambros walks over and takes the other.
