Page 83 of The Lies We Believe

BANE

I wasgrateful when River fell asleep on the way to the cabin. He hadn’t slept much over the past week, whether he was nervous over the move or stressed about the Black Dahlia case, I didn’t know, but the bruises blossoming under his eyes told me everything he didn’t. He was struggling, and I hated it. While we had both come a long way in communicating—River especially—there were still times when it felt like I was banging my head against a wall because I didn’t know how to get him to open up.

He woke up just as we hit the track up to the cabin, blinking awake as he jostled from side to side. He looked at me from under his lashes, and my heart skipped a beat. I’d never know what I did to deserve his love, but I was grateful every day for it. Seeing the biggest smile I’d ever seen on him take over his face as we pulled up to our new home was everything I needed to settle the frantic worry coiling inside me.

“Surprise,” I said, as tears glistened in his forest-green eyes. They darted around, taking in the little finishing touches Montoya and I had done over the last week. We’d stained the cabin with creosote, turning the large logs black, so they blended effortlessly with the forest that surrounded it. Montoya planted some window boxes and placed large planters at the edges of the steps leading up to the front porch. The addition of a handcrafted swing finished it off.

“Welcome home, angel.” I leaned over the console, pulled him into me, and slotted my lips over his. He kissed me back with an enthusiasm that continued to gain traction every time our lips met. The wet heat of his tongue sliding against mine had me opening immediately, desperate to have him closer. As he licked into my mouth, his tongue wrapping around mine, I forgot about everything bar the beautiful boy in my arms.

When we eventually pulled apart, panting hard, trying to regulate our breathing, we caught sight of Montoya and Jordan sitting on the porch swing, laughing. It turned out they were taking bets on how long it would take us to get unpacked once they’d left. I felt sorry for Jordan, because Montoya had an unfair advantage. He had no idea what I had planned. Our first night in our new home and new life would be one to remember. I just hoped everything went to plan, but the outcome rested solely on River’s shoulders, even though he didn’t know it.

“This place isn’t half bad, Benson,” Jordan said as he took our cabin in for the first time.

“Yeah, it’s something special, that’s for sure.” I smiled, but my eyes weren’t on my new home—they were on River. Jordan laughed when he followed my line of sight and slapped me on the back before heading down to help River open up the truck while I unlocked the door.

“You going to be happy here?” Montoya asked as she set a box down in the kitchen while I plugged the kettle in to make us all a drink.

“More than.” This was everything I’d never thought possible—a home with a family of my own. “Now, if I could only find some mugs.”

“Here,” Montoya said, opening the box she’d just brought in and handed me a couple of mugs. “Would you look at that. Looks like someone knew I’d be in serious need of caffeine to get through this torture.”

“You love it, really. You’ve gone all soft since you met Boston.” Deep burgundy stained her cheeks, and she shook her head, looking more bashful than I’d ever seen.

“Is that him now?” I asked when her phone buzzed. She pulled her dark brown eyes off the screen to glare at me. “Ha! It is.”

She huffed a laugh. “Nothing, umm, personal.” I waggled my eyebrows, and she stuck her tongue out at me. “He went to watch the sentencing because we were here today.”

“Yeah, I told him I was trying to keep River’s mind off it because he’d been struggling recently. So, good news?”

I waited with bated breath for her to finish reading. My heart was thundering in my chest because we needed this conviction to stick. Otherwise, we’d spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders. And for all River’s strength, I didn’t think he’d survive living another twenty years like that. He was the strongest of us all, but everyone had a breaking point. I just hoped he’d never find his.

Montoya cleared her throat and lowered her voice, impersonating the authority of Jude Mikelson. “Christine Hamilton, known as Dahlia, the head of the Black Dahlia organization, has been sentenced to one thousand years inprison. She was convicted on a hundred counts, eighty involving trafficking.”

“Holy fuck.” My knees gave out, and I collapsed to the floor, clutching my chest as I struggled to breathe. I could hardly believe it—it was over. It was finally, finally over. Montoya’s arms wrapped around my shoulders, steadying me. Without her unwavering strength and determination, I wasn’t sure we would’ve made it through to the end.

This case had shaken the very foundation of our lives, bringing changes we never could have foreseen. But most importantly, it had saved countless lives—more than we could ever measure.

By the time Montoya and Jordan left, the sky had turned a dusky blue, and the surrounding forest had come alive. River sat in one of the Adirondack chairs, hands outstretched toward the fire pit, and Shadow curled up at his feet. He seemed at ease for the first time today, as I walked down from the deck, drinks in hand.

“Here you go, angel,” I said, passing him a hot cocoa. Shadows from the flickering flames danced across his face as he took his cup.

“Aww, marshmallow and cream, too.” His breath hitched as he pinned the full weight of his gaze on me. “T-thank you.” He rolled his bottom lip through his teeth. “Today has been…”

“A lot.” I finished for him, and he nodded. We sat in relative silence surrounded by nature, and for the first time since we’d reconnected, it felt like a weight had been lifted off our collective shoulders.

“It has. B-but, totally worth it.”

“I’d do anything for you, angel.”

He let loose a breath and finished his drink. “You have given me the world.” He blinked back the glassiness in his eyes. “You have given me more than I ever thought possible.” A tear glidesdown his cheek, sparkling like a diamond in the firelight. “I never knew it was possible t-to feel this…”

“Happy?” I hedged.

“N-no. Complete.”

I felt ten feet tall at his quiet confession, and confidence suffused my veins. It was time to bring an extra dash of magic to the day. “Why don’t you go up and have a soak in the tub? I know you’re dying to.” River snorted, the sound so carefree I had to tuck my hands under my thighs, because they’d started to shake. “Come and find me when you’re done.”

River eyed me curiously, and it took every last bit of control I had not to blurt out my plan. I had to have patience, because he deserved perfection. He deserved to feel like the center of my universe, because that’s exactly what he was, and I’d spend a lifetime showing him.

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