Page 172 of Forbidden Fate

“I’ll decide when you’re fine.” She hugs me again. “You didn’t leave my side when I was in the hospital fighting for my life. I’m not going to leave your side now.”

I give a weak smile. “That sounds like heaven, really, but I have work to do on the ranch. The animals⁠—”

“Are fine,” Falcon cuts in. “Shane and the others are on the job, and there haven’t been any problems while you were gone. You stay where you’re taken care of.”

“But first,” Hawk says, “we’re taking you to the main house.”

“Why?” I ask. “Vinnie promised me the best restaurant in town.”

Hawk sighs, rolling his eyes. “Our mother decided we need to have a big dinner to celebrate your return.”

“I’m so tired,” I say.

“I know,” he says.

We exchange words with our eyes. Raven, Falcon, and Eagle all have a great relationship with our mother. Hawk and me? Not so much. I just want to take a hot shower and crawl into a clean bed.

“You know what?” Hawk says. “Fuck it. We’ll tell her no. You’re exhausted. You’ve been on a plane for eight hours. And you’ve been through hell⁠—”

I raise a hand to stop him. “It’s okay. I’ll go. But I need to shower first. And change, obviously.” I look down at the sweats and socks I’m wearing. I managed to snag some shoes at the airport. They’re ugly blue Crocs.

“Of course,” Raven says. “We’ll take you to our place first. You can clean up there. Maybe even get a nap in. There’s time.”

I sigh out a thank you and look at my siblings, all with their significant others.

Falcon and Savannah.

Raven and Vinnie.

Hawk and Daniela.

So in love. Not just love, but forbidden, difficult, dangerous love that somehow survived the impossible.

A pang hits me so sharply I almost hate them for it.

Not really.

Never really.

But for one ugly second, jealousy flashes through me.

They all got their forbidden romances.

Why did I have to walk away from mine?

42

CRUZ

Houston smells like rain, jet fuel, and the kind of hot pavement I remember from Texas.

For one moment after I step off the plane in Houston, I stand inside the terminal and simply breathe.

I’m in the United States. Back in Texas. Only days ago I was so sick of Texas, and here I am, thankful to be back here.

I follow the crowd through the airport, keeping my head slightly down but not too far. Men trying not to be noticed are noticed more quickly.

Move like you belong.