“That’s not true,” I balk.
She raises her brows as if I just proved her point.
Carl’s raspy laugh fills the room. He claps my shoulder and squeezes affectionately. “He’s a good kid. Strong-willed, but a good kid. The grove is in good hands.”
Her eyes dart between us.
“Carl wanted to retire so… I made him an offer.”
She blinks. “Youboughtthe grove?”
My face is on fire. The hornets have escaped their nest. They’ve gone rogue, stinging and buzzing in my bloodstream. Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe I should’ve waited…
Then Cade smiles. His real smile. And all of the tension in me dissipates.
He launches at me with a shriek. “What the fuck, Sebastian! This is huge! How did you hide this?” Before I can answer, he steamrolls on. “Are we moving here? Can we? Please? The three of us?”
“Yes,” I choke. “Yes, we can— wearemoving here.”
Andrea squeezes into our embrace and kisses my jaw. “Our orange grove,” she whispers. I nod. Through tears, she smiles. “Do I even wanna know how much debt you’re in now?”
“Nope.”
She throws her head back on a laugh. “The price of peace is steep.”
“You’re telling me,” I chuckle.
Cade squirms like a puppy with too much energy. “I’m so fucking ready. We’re gonna have ourownplace.” His hands grip my waist as he pulls back to look in my eyes. “Tell me I’m not making this up.”
I kiss his forehead. “You’re not making this up.”
Another shriek and he’s throwing Andrea over his shoulder, her legs kicking as he spins in delirious circles.
“I’m happy for you, kid,” Carl murmurs. “Your parents better not be giving you three any trouble.”
I shrug. “Declan was a bit stunned at first but he’s warming up to it. He’s not as close-minded as Mom.”
The old man sighs and shakes his head. “You can’t let them get to you. I know better than anyone, blood don’t mean shit. These two? They’re the ones that matter. You ain’t need to worry about anyone else.”
“I know,” I murmur. And I mean it.
Andrea and Cade are my world.
They’re all I need.
Prayers of the Faithless
Song of Solomon 1:2 King James Version
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
Andrea
ONE MONTH LATER
The light behind the Stigmata sigil flickers, a forgotten piece of caution tape caught on the stair rail fluttering to the screams of crickets and cicadas. Somber stained-glass windows stare us down as we exit Seba’s truck, their whispered warnings falling on deaf ears. All services at St. Gemma’s have been suspended indefinitely while police conduct their investigation. A nightmare for the congregation… and an opportunity for us.
A faint breeze ruffles Cade’s hair.
