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Fattears creep over my lips and fill my mouth with salt.
Mybest friend might be the devil, butI’mnotstuckhere inSanAntonioorTimeless.
Thisis home, and we stay to fight for our family here.
Chapter31
“Mirrors”
–Kissing Candice
IpromisedShannonbreakfast tacos and leftTyto supervise as he packs up whileDreais at school, butIhave a detour planned first.It’srisky heading to the botanica after everythingI’vedone—there’s a one hundred percent chance of running into aRamostwin.Butthere’s also a chance of running intoKristo try and talk some sense into her.
Mybottom lip disappears between my teeth, chewing on the thought.Knowingall the deep dark secrets theRamosfamily has kept hidden this whole time has turned the tables—Krisleaving before she hurts anyone else makes a lot of sense.
ButShannondoesn’t deserve this.Hedoesn’t deserve to have his entire world crumble and fall apart from underneath him again.Notwhen he loves her more thanI’veseen anyone love anything.
Whenhe would give up everything for them, becoming the devil to take care of his family…
Thesun hangs above the botanica, mocking me with a brightness that makes me squint even more thanIalready am untilIremember sunglasses are a thing.
Ipass theHellcatandTacomaon the way in.Bellsjangle above the door, and a wall of incense assaults my nostrils.
“Hey,”Zakgreets.Heleans a hip against the glass counter thatAdrianstands behind, leaning over on his phone. “What’reyou doin’ here?”
Itake a couple of steps forward but maintain a few feet of distance from the twins. “IsKrishere?”
“No,” they answer simultaneously.
“Doyou know where she is?”
“No.Why?”
Beadsclatter.TheirTiaRosasteps into the store, her graying black hair swooping in loose waves down her shoulders covered with a flowing burnt orange blouse.Herstern dark eyes heavily lined in black sum me up with an arched brow. “That’snone of your business.”
Mylips purse, andIcross my arms.
“What’sgoing on?”Zakasks, glancing back and forth.
Myannoyance wavers, and so does my voice. “SheleftShannon.”
Thetwins’ expressions shatter in my periphery. “What?”
TiaRosasteps forward. “Thisdoesn’t concern you.Theyaren’t your family.”
Myhands ball up into tight fists. “Theyare my family,”Ipronounce lowly. “Y’allare my family, whether any of us like it or not.”
Shesniffs. “Maybeif you had theRamosname.Tillthen, letKrishandle her business the way she sees fit.”
Iwant to bite back—we’re family even without the same last name, andShannondoesn’t deserve being left in the dustagainbecause of unforeseen consequences—butZakblocks my view of his tia.Thetense anger uncoils slightly in my gut as he watches me with tendernessIhaven’t seen in so long.
“C’mon, you’re really overdue for a limpia.”
Adrianimmediately straightens up and falls in line behind me as we file into the workroom behind the beaded curtain.
TiaRosaignores me asIpass.
“Don’trecall inviting you,”Icomment asIturn around to glare atAdrian.
