Page 119 of Gilded Saint

“Man—”

“The explosion?” Knox asks.

“Staged.”

Knox’s mouth opens, incredulous. I can imagine it’s a lot to absorb.

“You were never supposed to see it. You were supposed to stay in the bar,” Sam says. None of this is what he’s supposed to say.

Knox closes his mouth, and he cocks his head. “You hired?—”

“They did. They hired her. A distraction. You weren’t supposed to follow me.” There’s a plea to Sam’s tone.

“And you let us…”

The screen door creaks open.

His pregnant sister steps out onto the front porch. “Sam?” She squeals, arms wide, running forward as fast as a woman with a distended pregnant belly can. “Sam!” she squeals. “I knew it.”

Sam’s smile is as wide as I’ve seen as she crashes into him. I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other, but the other two men look on with the same incredulous, dazed expression.

On the porch, Sloane watches, hands at her side, elbows out. I expect to witness the same unbridled happiness Sage exhibits, but Sloane’s not smiling. Obviously, I don’t know her and might be misinterpreting her expression, but her slight hands ball into fists and she steps back. Is she going to leave?

Her movement draws Sam’s attention. He pulls away from Sage and holds out his arms to his other sister, but she isn’t having it.

She stares in his direction. Her mouth opens and closes. Is she having a panic attack? No one makes a move to help her.

The streetlights flick on, emitting a slight buzzing sound.

My hand squeezes the door handle. He asked me to wait, but someone has to do something.

Max approaches his wife, but he keeps his distance. He doesn’t touch her, but he’s talking to her in a low voice I can’t discern.

Headlights illuminate the street. The group on the lawn checks the approaching sedan and watches it pass, except for Sloane, who takes off, heading down a path around the side of the house.

“I’ll talk with her,” Max says, backtracking to the group. “She’s just going to need some time.” He places a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Good to have you back.” He pats him once, and then he’s off.

Sam and Knox shift, watching Max depart, and Sage looks past them to me. Our gazes lock, and my skin tingles with awareness.

“Sam…who is this?” Sage asks.

He turns, and the concern that had marred his expression lightens, and the corners of his lips lift.

“That’s my wife. Your sister-in-law.”

“You got married!” she exclaims, slapping his arm before charging toward me.

I step out of the SUV to greet her, sliding down to the curb, glancing past Sage to Sam.

Sage raises her arms and drops them. We both stand looking awkwardly at each other. Her smile is warm. I don’t know what to do. Hug her? Introduce myself? In a flash, Sam is beside me, his palm warming my lower back.

“Lily Watson, I’d like for you to meet my sister, Sage.”

He touches her shoulder, then brushes her hair behind her ear. “You look beautiful, sis. Pregnancy suits you.”

She beams through a steady stream of tears, then holds both arms out to me. “A sister,” she screeches. I bend to hug her, and, with her belly, it’s a little awkward, but we’re both smiling.

Her husband, Knox, steps up behind her. He’s not smiling, but he’s not glaring either. I think he might be shell-shocked. Sage wraps her arm behind his back, and he places his across her shoulder.

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