Page 192 of Forbidden Fate

“I will do everything I can,” he says, his breath tickling my ear, “to make up for what I’ve done to you. To Eagle. To all of you.”

I close my eyes.

And for the first time since I left the brothel in Colombia, something like peace settles in my chest.

I let myself have five seconds.

Five seconds in his arms.

Five seconds where I don’t think about Eagle’s hospital bed. Don’t think about Vega Senior still out there, or Vega Junior in the ground, or bodies, passports, embassies, blood, lies.

Five seconds where Cruz holds me and I let him.

Then I pull back.

He looks down at me, and the softness in his eyes almost makes me reconsider the whole pulling-away thing.

Almost.

“Don’t look so relieved,” I say.

“I am relieved.”

“This was the easy part.”

He raises a brow. “Was it?”

“Yes.”

“And the hard part?” he asks.

I gesture over my shoulder inside the house. “You’re about to find out.”

I extend my hand.

He looks at it.

Then at me.

I lift my chin. “You won me over. Now you have to do the same with the rest of my family.”

46

CRUZ

Robin’s fingers are warm around mine as she leads me deeper into the Bellamy house. I hold on, knowing this is my second—and last—chance with her.

I won’t waste it.

I’ll earn it if it takes the rest of my life. Her trust. Her respect. Her love, if she ever decides to give it.

Because she looked at everything I’ve done and still decided I was worth one final chance.

One.

I know exactly how much one chance is worth.

The sound reaches me before the room does.