She nods slowly before she stretches with a yawn, regarding me with sad eyes. “It still doesn’t feel real, does it?”
“I think it’s going to take a long time before it does, Hayles.” Leaning closer, I pull my sister into my arms, holding her tight against me as mixed emotions rise in my chest. Pain over Reese’s betrayal wars with gratitude toward her for giving me the most beautiful bond with her daughter.
My voice is rough when I murmur, “We have each other, though. We’re not alone in this.”
Her arms hold me tighter for a beat until she stiffens in my embrace. “Tristan.”
My father’s name escapes her lips on a shocked exhale, and I can feel her emotions rising to the top once more as I pull her to stand. We turn to face him together, and I slide my hand into hers, squeezing lightly in solidarity.
His black eyebrows are furrowed while his grey eyes are filled with sorrow, and as I recall his conversation with Ford from moments before, my heart floods with compassion. When he opens his arms to both of us, we rush forward side by side. He folds his arms around us, and our trio hugs each other close for a long beat.
The simple act of being with the two other people most affected by Reese’s deceit buoys me, lending me strength, and I inherently know that everything will be okay.
There’s a whole lot of healing to do and a mountain of issues to overcome, but I truly believe that we can get through this and come out stronger on the other side.
Because history and destiny are inexplicably intertwined, and we can’t wait for the latter without living through the former.
Then, as I exhale slowly, I feel Ford standing closer at my back, validating the veracity of my thoughts, because had we not survived our history, we’d never have made it to the cusp of our destiny.
And my family will survive this too. I’ll make sure of it.
CHAPTER 38
FORD
One Month Later
Manhattan
“We’re moving to Texas.”
My statement sees my three friends twist around to face me with distinctly different looks on their features.
Alex’s eyes are filled with disbelief, his jaw slightly unhinged. Gray’s face is lit up with a bright smile, genuine happiness shining from eyes that, more often than not, glimmer with a loneliness I can only imagine.
And Vaughn’s dark features are as unreadable as ever until one corner of his lips kicks upwards as he murmurs, “It’s about damn time.”
Before I can question him, he holds up a stalling index finger as he stands from his seat and strides from the VIP area without another word.
“Fuck, I didn’t see this coming.” Alex shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair, musing up the front so that it falls over his brow. “I mean, I knew you were gone for Emerson the moment you took Rey’s tamales to her, but I didn’t see eitherof you leaving the city…” he trails off before his eyes widen in question. “What about Sentinel? How do you plan on running it?”
“I don’t.” His eyes bulge almost comically, and I snort a laugh before reaching for my Macallan and taking a small sip. “Aside from the apartment over the offices, I’m selling everything else to Damon. As far as I’m concerned, Sentinel has served its purpose.”
I place my glass back on the table, watching my friend’s reaction as his eyes brighten and a smile overtakes his face. “The love of a good woman will do the damn unthinkable to a man.”
As we chuckle together, Gray rises from his seat and walks closer to extend his hand. I rise as I clasp it in my own, my chest warming at the affection in his moss-green gaze.
“The love of therightwoman.” He winks before dropping my hand and returning to his seat. Laughing lowly to himself, he settles back, plucking his Macallan from the table to his right. “And the fact that your so-calledPestof a sister is scheduled to move to Manhattan for her internship starting next month has no bearing on you moving out of state, right?”
My belly laugh rumbles through the space, and I throw my head back, meeting his eyes again only as I sober. “It’s a good thing I have such good friends in Manhattan to help her get settled, Rich Boy. Both Wren and Reyna have already reached out, and Hayley has told Emmy that she’ll be on hand should Faith need her.”
I sigh heavily, already conflicted about the move and not being here to support my sister in her big transition, even as I know Emmy feels similarly about leaving Tristan and Hayley, despite the fact the relationship between all three of them has solidified these past weeks.
“I feel guilty?—”
Gray cuts me off before I can utter another word. “You’ve put your life on pause for long enough, Tex. I’m sure we can all chip in and help her acclimate.” He scrunches up his face as he adds, “I sound like a complete dick, but you’ll need to remind me. Which sister is she again?”
“Well, you’ve never met Fallon ’cause she’s never visited. And Lissie is my shy sister, the one with the blonde hair who can barely make eye contact.”
