Page 119 of Salvaged Hearts

By the time our limo was crossing the Emerald Bay Bridge toward home, he was putting those lips to an even better use.

I’d just straightenedmy shirt and hair when we pulled up to the Hart House gate with an unexpected visitor outside it.

Arthur pulled the car safely onto the driveway before rolling to a stop so Grey and I could open the doors and greet Miranda,where she stood with mascara-streaked cheeks, hovering uncertainly by the gate.

“Come in,” I yelped, rushing for her. She gave a shuddering sob, collapsing into my open arms. “Sweetie,what happened?”

“You—I—two of them?! Oh my god, I just heard. Withdaggers?! Royce says Cap is in the hospital, and you—” Her hysterics cracked in two as she studied me with tears streaming down her cheeks.Stunned,I just held onto her as she commenced our awkward, over-belly hug.

She was breaking downover me?!

“Miranda?” I questioned. She frenetically disentangled our limbs before wiping at her face, lips still trembling.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—I just—you’re okay?”

“I’m okay,” I assured, feeling like the biggest pile of shit on the planet for not calling her. “We tried to keep it from the media, but you know how that goes.”

“Bloodthirsty savages,” she sobbed.

“With police blotters, evidently.”

“I’m so sorry, honey. So, so sorry.”

I chuckled morbidly. “It’s not your fault.”

“You’re just so wonderful, and you don’t deserve any of this and?—”

“Woah there, hormones,” I teased. “I’m okay.”

“Really?” she asked, looking me over like she didn’t believe me.

“I mean,no,” I admitted, glancing over my shoulder and locking on Grey, swallowing hard before explaining. “But he’s making sure I’ll get there.”

“You should have called,” she said with a sniffle that was just as vicious as a knife to the chest.

“I see that. I’m so sorry. I was on the phone all day with my siblings, and by the time I got through them, I was exhausted, and the story leaked, and then Max showed up.”

“Max is here?!”

“Somewhere. He didn’t cross the bay with us; said he had stuff to take care of.”

“I want to meet him,” she murmured with a little hiccup. Apparently, I sold the man well.

“Come on in,” I offered, but her eyes widened.

“Oh! Not like this,” she clarified, motioning to her face, but then down her entire body. She’d come here in maternity sweatpants and a t-shirt with what appeared to be a coffee stain on it. “I don’t know what I was thinking,” she admitted. “I saw the article, and I was in the car before I could explain it, and then called Royce, and he couldn’t reach Grey, and I just…panicked.”

Was it possible for a heart to mend and break simultaneously? Aside from my siblings and Max, I didn’t really have friends who would bother worrying about me. I mean, I hadn’t ever really hadfriends. The smart, quiet teacher’s pets rarely do.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t call.”

“You can’t be the one comforting me. That’s not how this works,” she protested.

“I’m not used to having someone to worry about me outside of family,” I admitted anxiously. Vulnerability was about as comfortable as a lemon bath after rolling in rosebushes. “Please come inside. We can make tea?”

But right as she looked between me and Grey, a wolf-whistle sounded from the house, and I spotted Max with Detective Rivera with his arms crossed, looking less than pleased. Max made his way toward us with a laptop under his arm.

“Maybe another time,” Miranda placated, eyeing the leather-clad Lucas where he loomed from the doorway. He looked distinctly pissed off, the more I evaluated him. For a squat little guy, he didbrooding herowell.

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