CIARA
Santiago helps me off the yacht, and I grip his hand tightly as he leads me up stairs that are made from stone. It actually looks like they’ve been carved into the side of a cliff.
Wearing a pair of jeans and a pretty blouse, I hope I look okay. I freshened up on the yacht, but I worry that I should’ve put more effort into my appearance.
I want to look my best, so Grace won’t worry about me. I’m even wearing socks that reach all the way to my knees to make sure the scars around my ankles don’t show.
My heart beats faster and faster, and as we begin to walk down a path, I tug on Santiago’s hand. “Wait!”
He stops immediately, and seeing the panic on my face, he moves in front of me. “Breathe, mi pequeño sol.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “I’m right here.”
I nod and try to calm my nerves.
When I blow the air slowly over my lips, he asks, “Ready?”
As ready as I’ll ever be.
“Yes.” We continue to walk, and I try to focus on the tropical scenery around me. I hear water, and when we cross over a wooden bridge, I look over the side at the stream below.
During the call, I saw a stream behind Grace.
My heart sets off at a crazy pace again, and as we come around a bend, a big building stands straight ahead, and to my left is a house. The architecture is Asian, blending seamlessly with the surrounding plants and trees.
“Ciara!” Grace shouts, and only then do I see her as she runs over a bridge that leads to the house. She’s wearing a long white dress that hangs loose on her body and sandals.
I pull my hand from Santiago’s and dart forward. Grace catches me, and I wrap my arms tightly around her neck as sobs burst from me.
She still smells the same.
I’m hit with a tidal wave of emotions. Some good, but also all the dark and vile ones. Everything that’s happened since I last saw Grace pours through me.
The chain.
The affectionate smile on Nolan’s face.
The crunching sound when he destroyed my phone.
My soul weeps as Grace presses kisses to my neck and shoulder.
“My God. Ciara,” she sobs. “I love you so much.”
I can’t get any words out and just cling to her.
She moves her hands to my shoulders and pushes me back, and when her eyes sweep over me, I lower my head and stare at the pretty pink nail polish on her toenails.
The love-crazed expression in Nolan’s eyes.
The belt.
His fists.
The next second, I’m yanked back into a hug, and she says, “I’m so sorry. I would’ve searched the ends of the world for you.” Her body jerks with sobs. “I should’ve known you wouldn’t just leave. I’m sorry.” I’m pushed back again, and her trembling hands frame my face. “God, Ciara.”
I struggle to focus on Grace, and when I see the questions and worry in her eyes, it has me pulling completely away from her.
‘Thank me, Ciara.’
I turn my face to the side, trying to rein in the dark emotions so she won’t see them.
‘You have me, and I’m the only person you need in your life.’
The hellish nightmare creeps out of the darkness it’s been hiding in, slowly filling my mind with awful memories.
‘You will do as I say, or I’ll punish you.’
Santiago wraps his arm around my shoulders, and instinctively, I press my face into his chest. “She’s just a little overwhelmed,” he explains. “Give her a moment to process everything.”
Just focus on Santiago.
I take deep breaths of him, needing the safety only he can give me.
I calm down enough to push the memories back into the dark void that the time spent with Nolan created, and when I feel in control of myself, I pull my face away from his chest and look at Grace.
Even though there are tear tracks on her cheeks, she smiles at me. “It’s so good to see you.”
I want to hug her again, but I’m scared I’ll spiral, so I remain glued to Santiago’s side as I say, “It’s good to see you, too.”
“Let’s go inside.” She gestures at the house. “I want to introduce you to Kristian.”
“Yes, let me finally see my godson,” Santiago chuckles.
Hearing Grace made him Kristian’s godfather really drives it home how much she trusts him.
I walk with Santiago, and when we enter the house, I glance around, taking in the serene decor. There are black couches in the living room and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook an outdoor area. I see the cream leather couch Grace was sitting on, and all the plants.
“I’ve prepared the guest room for you,” Grace says, drawing my attention to her.
I told Santiago I’ll see how things go before I make any big decisions, but as I stand in my sister’s home, everything feels foreign.
Dominik comes out of another room with Kristian in his arms, and when his eyes land on me, they’re not hard like I remember. His tone is also much softer when he murmurs, “Hi, Ciara. It’s good to see you again.”
Every muscle in my body tenses, but I manage to whisper, “Hi.”
When he smiles at Santiago, I’m thrown for a loop because I’ve never seen him smile before. “Finally, you get to meet your godson.”
Santiago pulls his arm away from me, and I quickly take a step back and move partially behind him.
I watch as he takes Kristian from Dominik, and as if he’s held a million babies, he handles my month-old nephew like a pro.
Santiago turns to me, and my eyes drift over every adorable inch of Kristian, who’s making baby noises.
“Would you like to hold your nephew?” Grace asks, stepping closer to us.
When I nod, Santiago hands him to me, and my heart clenches as I stare into my nephew’s gray eyes. His cheeks are chubby, and his lips are a rosy red.
Grace moves closer. “He’s growing so fast.”
I glance at my sister, then say, “He’s so adorable.”
Kristian kicks, more baby sounds filling the air, and I get lost in staring at him again.
“Come sit, mi sol,” Santiago murmurs, softly nudging me toward the couch.
As I take a seat, Dominik asks, “How are things in Peru?”
“Good,” Santiago answers. “I need to put in another order for weapons.”
“Just send it to Evinka. She’ll take care of it.”
“Do I get a discount, seeing as we’re practically family?” Santiago asks with a playful tone.
“You and your fucking discounts,” Dominik mutters as he takes a seat on the couch across from us.
Grace hovers near me, and I scoot closer to Santiago to make space for her. “Come sit by me.”
A smile spreads over her face, and she quickly drops down on the couch.
“Maybe we should head to the restaurant so the women can have some alone time,” Dominik says as he stands up again.
When Santiago begins to move, my anxiety spikes and I give him a pleading look to stay with me. He immediately settles back on the couch and says, “Not yet.”
“It’s okay.” Grace lifts her hand and brushes some of my hair over my shoulder. “I understand it’s going to take some time.”
I give her a grateful look before staring at Kristian again. He’s getting heavier by the second, though, and after ten or so minutes, I hand him back to Grace.
When I see her cradling her son, I’m struck with an overwhelming emotion.
She’s a mother.
My eyes flick to Dominik, who’s watching Grace with a loving look.
She’s married to him.
I scoot even closer to Santiago.
Our lives have completely changed. Grace has built a family with Dominik, and I’m no longer the woman I used to be.
The realization is jarring, and I lower my head, hoping it doesn’t show on my face.
“We had a long trip,” Santiago says. “We’re going to head to my place. How about dinner at eight?”
“Sounds good,” Dominik replies.
Santiago takes hold of my hand, and I quickly link my fingers with his.
When we get up, I glance at Grace and whisper, “See you later.”
She nods, her gaze searching over mine. I quickly look away again and walk with Santiago out of the house.
Not too far from Grace’s home, there’s another house nestled in the greenery. It also has black slate walls, but the design is different.
When Santiago places his hand on a biometric scanner and the door clicks open, he says, “We’ll scan your hand later so you can come and go as you please.”
I step into the house, and this time the atmosphere doesn’t feel foreign, and the tension in my body eases up.
“You did well, mi vida.”
“It doesn’t feel like it,” I whisper as I walk to the windows. I wrap my arms around myself, and stare at the beautiful view of plants, trees, and the stream. I feel Santiago behind me and admit, “I don’t fit into her life.”
“You will with time.”
I turn around to look at him. “Grace’s life continued while mine…” I shake my head to fight the dark memories so they don’t creep into my mind. “I’m happy for her, but I don’t know…” I press my hand to my chest where my heart is aching, and my voice is hoarse as I whimper, “I don’t belong anymore.”
“You do.” He steps closer to me, and lifting his hands, he frames my face and looks deep into my eyes. “You do belong, Ciara.”
I take in every handsome inch of his striking features, and I realize there’s nothing for me to decide. I’ll follow Santiago to the ends of the world.
I’m safe with him, and he’s the most selfless person I’ve ever met. Everything he does is for others.
With time, I can love him.
My lips part, and I whisper, “With you.”
He tilts his head, and the corner of his mouth lifts. “Always. No matter what you decide in the future, I’m yours, Ciara.” He reaches behind his neck and removes a gold chain. “I was going to wait for your birthday, but now feels like the right time to give this to you.” I see the diamond ring hanging from the chain, and shock trembles through me. “I got this ring for you when Lorena told me that I’d live a long life with you.”
My eyebrows draw together. “Lorena?”
“The fortune teller I told you about.”
Santiago fastens the chain around my neck, and I feel his fingers brush against my skin. Tingles race over my body as I look down at the beautiful ring.
I can’t believe he’s giving it to me.
“If you ever decide you want more than just friendship with me and you’re ready for a romantic relationship, I’ll put the ring on your finger. Until then, I want you to wear it.”
“How do you know I’m the person the fortune teller was talking about?” I ask as I touch the ring.
“I knew the moment I saw you in the field.” He lifts his hand to my face and brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “And over the past few weeks, every single thing about you has assured me I’m right. You’re the one for me, Ciara.”
His words fill me with so much warmth, and I reach up to wrap my arms around him. Within a second, his body engulfs mine, and I’m squashed to his chest. I press my face against his neck and take a deep breath of him.
I belong with Santiago.
I don’t feel so lost anymore because he is my home.
