Page 28 of Broken Saint

Nina led us in the direction of a small stage erected for tonight's event. I embraced several people in greeting and thanked everyone for their birthday wishes. Honestly, I found it all overwhelming. This kind of love and support from my found-family meant everything to me.

But with Ronin at my side, constantly touching me, as if to remind me of his presence, I couldn't help but remember that these people didn't know who I really was. I mean they did, because Nova was as real as I could get. But there was still Catherine to deal with, and I feared what the sense of betrayal would do to these hard-won friendships.

By the time the crowd parted, and I got my first look at Zia's masterpiece, I stopped in my tracks, my hands going up to cover my mouth. There on the table sat a four-foot high, three-tiered cake that looked like a fashion show itself. Each tier had doorways with models in them wearing beautiful and detailed gowns. On the second tier, my name had been recreated to look like the famous Hollywood sign, and on top of the smallest tier was a spiral staircase with a model wearing a green gown that looked remarkably like mine. No freaking way. "Holy cow!"

Nina and Zia laughed, followed by Izzy, another of my close friends, who had walked up next to me. "I told you she was going to freak out."

"Freak out?! I'm speechless. Are those?" I stepped closer to get a better look. "Are those my designs on the models?"

"Yep." Zia beamed. "Your assistant provided pictures, and I recreated them as best I could. I hope I did them justice. They are all one hundred percent edible."

I truly was speechless. I didn't have a clue what I was supposed to say. I could feel tears burning at the backs of my eyes, but I didn't want to embarrass myself by crying at my own party. I took a steadying breath, and Ronin leaned forward to whisper in my ear. "Just say thank you. That's all she needs."

I nodded. Maybe he was right, but it felt so inadequate. I did not want to think about the number of hours something like this must have taken. I turned to Zia. "I don't think anything I can say would do justice to how I feel about this, but thank you."

"I don't mean to interrupt," Nina interjected. "But have y'all met Ronin?"

All eyes turned to the man standing to my left. I could only imagine the cocky grin all over his face, but I'd bet good money it was there even if I couldn't see it.

"Sorry. I'm doing a crap job at this so far. Izzy and Zia, this is Ronin Kavanaugh. Ronin, Izzy and Zia. I'd introduce their significant others, but I don't see them right now.”

"Vincent is running late," Zia said. "Even in recovery mode, he doesn’t sit still. He had some business thing at the gym, but he should be here soon."

Izzy waved to someone behind me. "Here's Houston now, and I hope you don't mind, he invited his brother to tag along." She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "They are still trying to kiss and make up from a less than stellar decade of ignoring each other. You want to talk about two very stubborn men with some crazy skeletons..." We all laughed as we turned to greet them.

Instead of a greeting I got a punch straight to my gut when I saw who stood next to Izzy's husband. I sucked in a sharp breath before I could stop it and I could tell by the sudden jerk of Ronin's hand that he'd caught my reaction.

This could not be happening.

"Hi, Nova. Happy Birthday." Houston leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek. I stared over his shoulder at the man I guessed was his brother. His eyes looked like two storm clouds about to unleash hell. I swallowed hard.

"Thank you," I managed at barely a whisper. It wasn't easy to push words out, when I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"I hope you don't mind I brought someone extra with me tonight. Apparently, he works too damned much and was in definite need of a night out. Nova, this is Rock Reed, my brother. Rock, Nova."

I held my breath, waiting to see what he would do. When he stepped forward to take my hand, I almost lost it. "Happy Birthday, Nova," he said, pressing his mouth to my fingers instead of keeping to a simple shake. My entire insides were quivering in shock, but that familiar warmth and shock of electricity I always got when he touched me raced through my blood. I half wanted him to pull me into his arms and lay claim to me right there.

"Oh, and this is Ronin," Izzy interjected, pulling me out of my Rock Reed arousal fog. Rock. Damn, I didn’t think a man could have a more perfect name. She looked back at us. "Kavanaugh, right?"

"Yes. Ronin Kavanaugh." He leaned past me to shake Houston's hand before he turned to Rock. They grasped hands, but I could immediately see the tension form between them. "Nova's fiancé." Ronin added, looking directly at Rock.

His gaze jerked to mine, and my stomach dropped to the floor. Oh shit.

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