Page 104 of Crossed
I smile. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Chapter41
Amaya
AHAND SLOWLY CARESSES MY SIDE AND MY eyelids flutter. Smiling, I stretch my arms above my head and lean back against the warm body.
Cade.
I’m about to murmur his name when a different voice speaks in my ear.
“Sweet girl.”
My eyes shoot open, and I jerk to a sitting position, whipping my gaze to meet Parker’s.
He’s fully dressed and looks like he’s about to head out the door to the office. I bring my hand to my chest, trying to catch my breath, panic pricking my muscles when I realize I almost moaned out Cade’s name in front of him.
Parker chuckles. “Good morning, wife-to- be. Get some coffee and get dressed. Jason wants to meet.”
This gets my attention and I sit up straighter, running a hand through my hair as I try to stifle a yawn with my other one. “Oh, okay. Good news, I hope?”
He grins. “You’re free and clear, baby.”
My hand drops to my side, and I stare at him, not sure whether to believe it or not. “What? Are you serious?”
He leans in, pressing a kiss to my lips, and I stiffen involuntarily before relaxing into his touch. “I told you I’d take care of you, Amaya.”
Relief floods me and I throw my arms around his neck without thinking, holding back the emotion at knowing I’m finally done having this shit hanging over my head. “Thank you, Parker. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
His hands leave my back and slide down to the tops of my thighs, working their way up underneath the bottom of my sleep shorts. “I know another way you can thank me.”
Bile rises in my throat, and I force a laugh, smacking his hands off my thighs. I’ve been lucky that up until now, he’s been busy at night with work. “You just said Jason needed to meet, and you look like you’re on your way out. Rain check?”
He groans, squeezing me tight enough to bruise before releasing me and standing up to straighten his suit. “Fine, but don’t think I’ll wait forever. You agreed to be mine, and I’ve held up my end of the bargain. It’s time you start showing some fucking gratitude for everything I’m giving you.”
My name has officially been cleared, and I can’t wait to grab Quin from his rehearsal at the church and swing by home—I mean Dalia’s— and celebrate.
I’ve been having her pick up and drop him off because I didn’t want to chance seeing Cade when I’ve done so well with avoiding him, but today I told her the good news and decided to say fuck it and head there myself.
Part of me, the most depraved part, hopes to run into Cade anyway so I can let him know too.
“Where’s Quin?” I ask Lydia, looking around at all the other students being wrapped up in their coats and herded into the streets.
She scratches at her neck and looks down at the ground, guilt weaving its way onto her face. “Father Cade took him away sometime during the middle of the rehearsal.”
My entire body freezes. “What?”
Her eyes are apologetic as she looks up at me. “He was doing just fine, so I went over to talk to Mr. Anderson, and when I got back, he was gone. I spent half a damn hour searching high and low before Florence told me she saw them go off together. I figured it was fine since it was Father Cade.”Unbelievable.
“What was Florence doing there?” I spit, then hold up my hand. “You know what? Never mind.”
Logic leaves me entirely.Is this his way of getting me to talk to him?
I thought we had a deal, albeit a silent one, but I figured we both understood what needed to happen. And I’ve held up my end of the bargain; I’ve stayed away. I don’t want to ruin his life any more than I want him to ruin mine, and him kidnapping my brother from where he’s supposed to be isnotholding up his end.
“Come on then,” I say to Lydia, not waiting for her to follow me. “I’ll focus on why you didn’t know what happened to Quinten forthirty minuteslater, and instead, you can come wait with him while I have a chat with Father Cade.”
Lydia sucks on her lips and nods, the guilt oozing from her pores.
