Page 105 of Falling Into Forever
He’s tried to find another solution for weeks to protect Trent from himself because he thought he owed it to him. Dante pulls both hands through his hair until it’s standing on end. I can sympathize with that urge. Physical pain is easier to deal with sometimes.
“He’s dead to me now.” His voice is lethal. His gaze burns a hole into my chest. “I will end this, Saylor. Now.”
“Gwody,” Poppy screeches from behind the screen door. Lilly runs up behind her, but it’s too late. Poppy barrels through the door, wraps her arms around Grady’s neck, and hooks her legs around him like a human backpack.
“Hey, munchkin.” Thankfully Grady has a surprisingly easy way with her, because it’s taking Dante some time to compose himself.
“Sorry about that,” Lilly says.
“It’s okay.” I’m shocked at how calm I sound.
Something has shifted in me. Or maybe something broke that can never be fixed. Or maybe what was broken is trying to heal itself. Whatever it is, I am different.
I have something to fight for now—me…and them. All these people love me, and anger that someone is trying to take this away again sits like acid in my gut.
Grady stands with Poppy still attached to his back.
“Gwody makes the bestest pancakes ever,” she says with a sunshiny smile. She has no idea of the bombshell she dropped, though.
“You had breakfast with them?” Dante asks. It sounds like an accusation, but it’s only confusion on his face, and it gives me a reprieve from the turmoil happening in my mind.
The beauty of distraction.
“Ever-we day,” Poppy says cheerily, but not loudly enough to cover up Grady’s groan.
“I’m helping,” he grumbles.
“Uh-huh.” I nod, but even he can’t keep a straight face amidst the chaos of the moment.
My stomach hollows out, nearly knocking me over. I’m smiling. I’m not panicking. I’m not falling apart. I’m just—absorbing information and—I’m living.
“Don’t, Sass.”
But that growly bear routine doesn’t intimidate me.
“Why don’t I take Poppy with me? It’ll give you two a little time to prepare. Because it’s Kingston, the story is spreading quickly,” Grady says.
Dante’s back to pacing and doesn’t respond.
Kingston. One of the wealthiest families in the world. One of the most powerful too. And yet, we only ever knew Blake as the man who made our sister smile.
“I’ll call Lena and tell her what’s going on,” Grady says when he gets no reply from either of us. “I have to stop at the brewery for a few minutes, but she can play with Harrison. She’s probably better at following rules than he is. Then I’ll take her home and wait for Lena to finish work.”
Grady turns to me for direction when Dante still doesn’t respond, but all I can offer is a shrug.
Finally, Dante stops moving and focuses on us. “Yeah, thank you, Grady. If Lena says it’s okay, that would be helpful,” he says, but he’s distracted. His gaze jumps from one object to another, and I can tell he isn’t seeing anything at all. He’s planning. Scheming. Plotting revenge.
Heavy silence covers us like soaked denim in a rainstorm. It’s uncomfortable and heavy.
Grady dials Lena on speakerphone, and it rings three times before she picks up.
“I’m at work. I can’t talk right now.”
Grady’s face pinches and the tips of his ears turn red, but he doesn’t let it deter him. “Check the trash papers. I’m at Sassy’s house now. Is it okay if I take Poppy home with me? They have some—stuff to handle.”
A light clicking sound comes through his phone, and then a sorrowful gasp. If I had to guess, Lena was googling as Grady spoke.
“Um, okay. That’s okay. You—you’ve babysat before, right? On second thought, maybe I should tell Mrs. Winters I need to—”
