Page 156 of The Wrong Ride Home

The cicadas droned in the distance.

I reached for his hand, and he took it, lacing his fingers through mine.

“I don’t wanna talk about her anymore,” he said, voice low, rough. “I’m done with her.”

“Okay.”

We stopped near the river, the water catching the moonlight, silver and endless.

Duke turned to me, his free hand cupping my jaw, his thumb brushing over my cheek. “Thank you for coming with me and taking care of me,” he murmured.

Emotion filled my eyes, but I shook it off. “You’re stuck with me, cowboy.”

His lips quirked. “I love you, Elena, myFlorecita.” The words were quiet but sure, steady as the land beneath us.

My chest ached, full and warm. “I know,” I whispered back. “I love you, too,mi cielo, very much.”

His mouth caught mine, slow and deep, the kind of kiss that said more than words ever could.

We had been through hell and back, and we were still standing,together. The future stretched out before us, wide open and waiting, and I was ready to run toward it without fear.

CHAPTER 47

duke

More than six months had passed since Gloria was arrested. Since I finally saw my mother for who she really was. Since every last one of our ghosts had been dragged out into the light.

And yet, I’d never been happier.

Ironwood would be sold in the next few days, and Piper Novak would go on trial by the end of the year. Fiona had taken a deal like my mother, and both would start their prison sentences in a few weeks. I wasn’t paying much attention; I was just letting Mac filter the information from the DA to us.

Life had taken a pattern, a beautiful one—even though a few years ago, I’d have thought this was the definition of mundane hell. Then, I didn’t know what I was looking for; I didn’t understand the meaning of the word contentment or peace because I’d never experienced it.

Elena felt the same way as she often marveled whenwe were in bed, sitting on the porch, or on the riverside, as we were now, “How is this our life?”

Since the summer days were longer, I asked Itzel to pack us a picnic basket for dinner. I’d asked her to be careful about what she packed because Elena’s stomach was on the fritz. I don’t think she’d clued in yet that she was pregnant. I didn’t want to interfere with her finding out because she talked about it often, wanting this time, the moment when she told me, becausethis timeI’d be there with her, this time she wouldn’t be alone or afraid.

I’d worried about her riding, but Itzel had just rolled her eyes, calling it overprotectiveness—something she and Elena seemed to agree on.“Women drive when they’re pregnant, and Elena rides. Same difference.”

I hadn’t told her about the miscarriage, but Itzel was sharp. She saw more than people realized. And while she didn’t give me grief over it, she also didn’t let me hover too much.

The sun was sinking slowly, spilling streaks of fire and gold across the sky, turning the river into liquid copper. The cottonwoods rustled, whispering secrets in the wind, and the world felt like it was holding its breath.

We sat together on the blanket. I leaned against the cottonwood and Elena against me. Her hand was on her stomach, and she stroked it gently.

I wondered then if she knew and was waiting to tell me. Or maybe she was holding on to her cherished secret for just a little longer, scared she’d lose this baby, too. I understood and gave her space.

For a man who’d lived as selfishly as I had, opening myself in this manner, living my life to make this woman happy, was a gift from the universe—an honor.

I lifted her face to mine and kissed her. “So,” I drawled, grinning wide.

“So?”

"Guess I should ask if you’re staying for good, then."

She made a face. “Of course, I am.” She arched an eyebrow. “Afraid I’ll disappear?”

“Yes,” I replied honestly.

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