Page 63 of No Greater Oblivion

Not Lettie though. Lettie was the sun and every star in his sky. She could’ve glued a pair of chopsticks together and he’d have sung her praises until the end of time.

Lettie’s initial silence catches me a bit off guard until she lifts her head and I see the subtle sheen in her eyes. “To me, you’re my dad too.”

My heart stops and falters in my chest.

“Are you proud? Even if…even if this is just who I am.”

I reach out to cup her face and she covers my hands with hers, blinking away at the moisture gathering in her eyes. “I can’t say there’s much in my life I’ve actually done right. But at the very least, I have you. You are by far my greatest, most precious achievement. I cannot imagine doing anything else in life that’ll come close to how perfect you turned out. And I will be a proud brother and father for the rest of our lives.”

She blinks and a single tear slips free. I brush my thumb across her cheek.

“Okay?”

Lettie manages a tight-lipped smile and a curt nod. “Okay.”

16

WHEN DAHLIA MET ALYSSA

Dahlia

The Past

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is beautiful in September.

In fact, I think fall is my favorite time of year here.

Today the weather dropped below 80 degrees for the first time in months and I have never enjoyed being out in the sun so much. BIS’s campus looks plucked straight from a medieval fairytale, beautiful stone structures under a glistening Mediterranean sun. Out in the main courtyard where the cloister halls connect most corners of the massive campus, vibrant green vines creep around the tall columns of the colonnade and flowers bloom along the peaked arches. There’s a water fountain in the center and a pair of citrus trees students like to sit under for the shade.

Columbia was an amazing campus but I’m not sure it measures up to a monastery turned university.

Beni struggles to keep up with me, dodging bustling college students like bullets. “How do you walk so fast with that thing?”

“I’m a New Yorker.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Yes it is,” I reply, “Besides, Pedro usually keeps up with me just fine.”

Beni comes to a staggering halt, jaw unhinged, hand over his heart. “I’m offended you’d even say that.”

I roll my eyes, refusing to lose momentum. “It was a joke, B.”

“Was not! I get reassigned for a few measly weeks and already I’m being compared to my subpar replacement!”

I laugh without meaning to. “I thought you and Pedro were gossip buddies?”

“Not anymore. Clearly that backstabbing Judas can’t be trusted. At least I didn’t let you walk into a burning building alone.”

“To be fair, neither did Pedro.” My pace slows momentarily as I look over at him. “Maybe don’t make a joke like that in front of Alex. He’s still really upset about the whole thing.”

So much so that poor Pedro has taken more than one verbal berating over it. Last week I heard Alejandro tell Pedro that as soon as Beni was back from assignment, he’d be relegated to the graveyard shift until further notice. A shameful demotion for someone who’s served this family as long and as faithfully as Pedro has. Rodrigo and Paco, the youngest of the guards, usually watch the house at night, which is why I interact with them the least. Since Manuel was killed, I’ve noticed Mauricio around the house more often. Then again, I really don’t pay much attention to the security detail. It’s hard to keep track of them when they go out on assignment and someone else takes their place.

“Whatever you say, jefecita.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and swaggers along. “Whatever you say…”

This afternoon, I have a doctor’s appointment to get this stupid boot off. God, I can’t wait to be a free woman again. I’m grateful my ankle has healed but not more than I am desperate to be free of this five-pound monstrosity. If Beni thinks I’m tough to keep up with now, Heaven help him next week.