Page 71 of Death

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.

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