Page 35 of Sin and Redemption

I nodded.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Where does Sara want to bury it?”

“She doesn’t know.”

“There’s an old oak in the woods behind my parents’ house. I used to go there when I wanted to be alone.”

She smiled. “That sounds like a peaceful place. I’ll ask Sara.”

“Do that.” My voice was croaky, and my throat felt dry.

Thirty minutes later, Liliana and Romero helped Sara into my truck. She was pale and shaky, but she refused to see a doctor. Romero and I exchanged a glance. After the burial, we’d have to convince her to see our doc. It was still dark outside when we started the drive. I’d called my parents and told them we were coming to the house and why, then hung up before Mom could try to console me.

Sara and Liliana sat in the back while Romero sat in the front with me. He held the jewelry box in his lap.

When we pulled up the driveway, Mom and Dad waited on the porch with gaslights as it was still dark.

Together, all of us walked toward the oak tree. When we arrived, the sun rose over the treetops, lighting up the spot where I planned to bury the box.

I grabbed the shovel from Dad and began to dig into the hard ground. Soon, I had to use the pickax to make progress. Nobody said anything as I worked on the hole. Eventually, when I deemed it deep enough that it would be safe from being dug up easily, I straightened. Romero still held the box.

“Can I?” Sara asked, motioning at the box, her chin wobbling. Romero handed it to her. She peered down at it, then up at me with anguished eyes. She took a step toward the hole and almost broke down. I grabbed her arm to steady her and helped her the rest of the way. She fell to her knees in front of the hole and slowly lowered the box into it. She touched her fingertips to the lid and closed her eyes. Then she looked up at me with a small nod.

My fingers on the shovel tightening, I picked up the first scoop of earth and began to fill the hole while Sara knelt on the icy ground. When I was done, I released a deep breath. Liliana touched Sara’s shoulder. “Come. You’ll catch a cold.”

Sara gave her a look that made it clear she had half a mind to lie down beside the grave and not get up.

I clenched my fingers around the handle of the shovel.

“Come, love,” Liliana said again, and this time, she managed to pull Sara to her feet. Slowly, Sara dragged her gaze up from the grave, and our eyes locked. My grip on the shovel tightened even more at the deep pain in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

I gave a terse nod.

“I think Sara will spend the night with us,” Liliana said.

I had expected it, so I nodded again. I could feel Mom’s eyes on me, but I didn’t return her gaze.

“You can have our spare car,” Mom said. “The keys are in the ignition. It’s the red truck.”

I was relieved I wouldn’t have to give them a ride home. I could tell Sara wanted to be with her parents.

Romero, Liliana, and Sara left together, but I stayed beside the grave, supporting my weight on the handle of the shovel. The cold had penetrated my body. I couldn’t even feel my fingers or toes anymore, but I didn’t want to leave yet. It was utterly silent around us—no chirping birds, no barking, and no sounds from the nearby road. It was as if life had ground to a halt at that moment, and it seemed only fitting.

Mom approached me. She was wrapped in her thickest winter coat and UGG boots, and still shivered due to the unrelenting cold. She touched my hand. “Let’s go in. I’ll make us an Irish coffee and warm up some cinnamon cookies.”

Dad pried the shovel from my cold fingers. “Listen to your mother.”

“I should head back home. I have to work in two hours. The ride will be excruciatingly long in rush hour.”

“You won’t go to work today. Luca will understand,” Mom insisted.

I laughed bitterly. “I’m an Enforcer, Mom. Do you think a bit of flesh and blood will bring me to my knees?” My heart clenched at my words, but I kept glaring at my mother, willing my words to become true.

Mom shook her head with a sad smile. “I birthed and raised you. I held you when you cried when you were little. Don’t think I don’t see when you’re breaking inside. If this was how you just described it, you wouldn’t have buried it the way you did. Lie to yourself if it helps you, but I can see the truth!”

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