Page 76 of The Last Promise You Made

“My Switch? I can’t find it,” Addy said.

“I think it might be downstairs from last night, but you won’t need it today anyway.”

She looked uncomfortable.

“You and Balam are going to be my construction forepersons. You get to supervise.”

Her eyes turned wide. She shoved her thumb against her chest. “Me?”

“Yep. After I teach you how to use a hammer, you can keep me and my guys on track.”

She shifted her feet, uncertainty growing.

“I want to be a foreperson too!” Mila whined.

I ruffled her hair. “Another time, kiddo.”

“Thank your uncle Ryder and Addy for letting you stay. We gotta get goin’. Otherwise, you’ll be late.”

Mila hugged me tight and then hugged Addy, who held herself stiff for a moment before putting her arms around Mila and hugging back. Mila ran for the door, and Rianne said goodbye before following her. Gia passed her coming in, and the two exchanged good mornings.

“I left breakfast burritos in the oven for you and Enrique,” I told Gia as she walked in, rubbing her fingerless-gloved hands together. Her hair was tucked under her gray beanie, but her nose was bright red, and I despised all over again that she’d been out in the freezing temperatures because of us. “There’s coffee too. Addy and I are heading over to the ranch. Why don’t you both eat and catch up to us there?”

“I’ll take the coffee with me. Give me two seconds to use the restroom.”

“We can go without you.”

She shook her head. “No.”

She didn’t wait for me to argue more, just headed down the hall. While she was gone, Enrique wandered in from the bedroom. He had scruff on his cheeks, his hair was sticking up, and he was wearing the same clothes as the day before. When I’d introduced him to Addy last night, she’d tucked behind my legs. She did the same now on seeing him.

“Gia says we’re heading to the ranch.” He eyed the coffeepot. “Okay if I grab some of that?”

“To-go cups are in the cupboard above it.”

“Thanks.”

Gia’s hurried footsteps joined us. “Pour me one too, Enrique.”

He did as she asked, and I moved to the oven, pulling out the two burritos I’d wrapped in foil.

“Thanks,” the DEA agent grunted out.

We headed out the door, locking it and arming the system. Enrique went to his lowrider while Gia, Addy, and I loaded up in the Escalade again. Climbing into the passenger seat was becoming a habit I didn’t like.

It wasn’t until we were halfway to the ranch that I realized Addy didn’t have her backpack with her. The idea that she felt safe enough to finally leave it did something to my heart and soul I wasn’t sure I could stand. It made me determined to not let her down. Made me determined to make sure she always felt this safe.

When we parked in the lot in front of the ranch’s restaurant, still dark and dim, I looked at Gia and Addy and said, “Why don’t you two check on the kittens real quick while I talk with Mama?”

I didn’t want Addy to see my mother upset about Uncle Phil dying. She didn’t need to see more loss up close and personal. I wasn’t sure she could handle it, especially as she hadn’t gotten any closure with Ravyn. No funeral. No goodbyes. Why did my heart and lungs feel like a boa constrictor was living permanently inside me these days? Squeezing my chest until it ached.

“That’s a good idea,” Gia said. “Come on, Addy, I’ll race you.”

The two of them took off toward the barn, my chest warming as their serious faces grew into wide smiles as they ran. Addy even giggled when she beat Gia to the barn door. I wanted more of that from both of them. I wanted only lightness and laughter to surround them, which was confusing as hell when it came to Gia. I might not have any business thinking of her that way, and it might be the least-smart thing I’d done in a long time, but I couldn’t help it. I longed to have all of her. Body. Heart. Soul. Every ounce she had to give. I craved it to be mine.

Enrique pulling in next to Gia’s Escalade brought me out of my maudlin reverie to the reality of our situation where we needed armed guards to keep us safe. This wasn’t the time to be daydreaming about things I couldn’t have. It wasn’t the time to be opening my heart again like Sadie had all but begged me to.

I ignored the DEA agent and bounded up the steps to the house.

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