Page 100 of Searching for Valor

“I did as soon as we got back. He’s good, too.”

She hesitated, and he glanced over at her again. When he saw the tears in her eyes, he turned to face her and cupped her cheek in his hand.

“What about us?” she asked, her voice choked. “Are we okay?”

He brushed away the tear that escaped down her cheek. “We will be. I’m not going to lie and say this didn’t scare the hell out of me, Izzy. And I am angry. The thought of losing you...” He trailed off, unable to finish.

She covered his hand with her own, leaning into his touch. “I know. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. It’s not that I didn’t trust you. I trust you more than anyone. I just… you were in with Valor, grieving over what happened to him, and I was afraid to pile more on.”

“I know. And I understand why you did what you did. Both tonight and back at that safe house. It’s who you are— fiercely protective of the people you love. It’s one of the reasons I fell for you in the first place.”

“You… fell for me?”

Rylan’s heart clenched at the vulnerability in her voice, the way her eyes shone with a fragile, tentative hope. He’d spent so long fighting his feelings, trying to keep her at arm’s length, terrified of getting hurt again. But standing here now, with the scent of her shampoo filling his nose and her skin warm beneath his fingertips, he knew he couldn’t deny it anymore.

“Yeah,” he said roughly. “I fell for you, Izzy. Hard. I tried not to, but...” He lifted her chin with his index finger and grinned at her, hoping to make her smile. “Why else would I agree to dinner with your family tomorrow night?”

Her eyes flared wide. “Oh my God, that’stomorrow?”

chapter

thirty-five

The Delgado householdwas alive with noise and laughter, the kind of chaos Izzy had grown up in and secretly missed when she’d moved out. The kitchen smelled like heaven—her mom’s tamales and arroz con pollo mingling with the warm, nutty scent of cinnamon coffee. Abuela Ramona sat at the head of the table, already tucking into the bowl of guacamole with a bag of tortilla chips.

“Ramona, wait for the rest of us,” Marisol said, giving her a playful swat with the serving spoon.

“I’m old,” Abuela said, popping a chip into her mouth. “Make me wait too long, I’ll be dead.”

Izzy grinned, leaning against the doorframe and watching as her siblings bickered in the living room. Diego was stretched out on the couch, his head resting in Sofia’s lap as they argued over what to watch on TV. Mateo stood near the kitchen island, doting on Monica and the kids, refilling their drinks, and sneaking Noah a pre-dinner churro. Noah’s eyes lit up, and he chattered between bites about his favorite video games. Grace was quieter than usual, hovering worriedly near her mother until Mateo said something to make her laugh.

Izzy couldn’t help but smile. Mateo was in his element. He’d always been the protector, the one who made sure everyone was safe and happy. Seeing him so attentive to Monica and her kids made her heart ache in a way she didn’t quite understand.

“Hey, Issa,” Lucia said, nudging her shoulder. “I think big brother’s in love.”

“No.” The denial was instant. But then she really looked at the two of them. Monica was still bruised and battered from her ordeal, but Mateo was staring at her like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “Holy shit.”

“Holy shit is right.”

“Language,” Mamá snapped from the kitchen.

“Sorry, Mamá,” she and Lucia chorused at the same time.

Rylan stepped up beside Izzy, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back. The warmth of his touch seeped through her shirt, making her pulse quicken. She glanced up at him, taking in the familiar lines of his face, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

“You escaped from Papá’s clutches unharmed, I see.” She’d been worried since her father dragged Rylan into the garage fifteen minutes ago on the pretense of showing him a classic car.

Rylan winced. “My ego took a bit of a beating, but it was nothing I didn’t deserve.”

“So it… went okay?”

He nodded. “I’m only half-terrified of your family now.”

“You’ve survived explosions and combat and two murder attempts,” she pointed out. “This is just dinner.”

“Yeah, and this is scarier,” he deadpanned, his lips twitching with the hint of a grin.

“Dinner’s ready,” Marisol called out, and the Delgado siblings sprang into action, jostling each other as they rushed to the table. Izzy hung back, letting Rylan guide her to the two empty seats next to each other.

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