Page 36 of Searching for Valor

“Yes.” Izzy hesitated. She thought of Rhiannon and how kind she’d always been. How gracious she’d been when Izzy apologized, even though Rylan had barely looked at her since. “Rhiannon forgave me. But Rylan… he can barely stand to be in the same room as me.”

Ramona tsked. “This boy of yours carries heavy burdens, and not all of them are his alone. Give him time, but remember, his anger is his. It’s not yours to hold. You can’t shoulder everyone else’s troubles like he does. Nobody can without breaking.”

The words sent a skitter of fear down her spine. She thought of the way Rylan looked the other morning, the way he had reeked of alcohol.

Was that what was happening with him? Was strong, solid, dependable Rylan Cross breaking? “I-I don’t know what to do.”

Ramona squeezed her hands.“Siempre escucha a tu corazón, pero usa tu cabeza.”

Always listen to your heart, but use your head.

It was another of her grandmother’s favorite sayings.

“I can tell you care deeply about this man,” Ramona continued. “But you cannot make him forgive you,mija. That is a choice only he can make.”

Tears flooded her eyes. “What if he never does?”

“Then he does not deserve you. You are not the sum of his forgiveness. You have always had a brave heart, Isabella. Even when you were a little girl, you stood up for what was right, no matter how hard it was, and you made an impossible choice to protect your family. If this Rylan cannot see that, then he is not the man you thought he was.”

Izzy opened her mouth to… she didn’t know what. Thank Abuela? Or defend Rylan? She wanted to do both, but her phone buzzed on the table. She snapped it up, hoping it was Rylan.

But it wasn’t.

It was?—

She leaped to her feet and rushed out of the room, shutting herself in the laundry room off the kitchen—the only place she knew nobody would overhear the conversation. Then, she turned on the dryer before answering. “Monica! Oh my God, are you okay? Where are you?” The questions tumbled out in a rush.

“Izzy…” Monica’s voice was a ragged whisper. “I don’t have much time. Did you find Grace and Noah? Are they safe?”

“No.”

A muffled sob sounded on the other end of the line, and Izzy’s heart squeezed.

“Mo, why didn’t you show up to help me look for them?”

“I-I couldn’t. I…” She trailed off, and there was some frantic rustling, as if she was moving in a hurry.

“Why not?”

“I’m being followed.”

Izzy’s blood ran cold. “Followed? By who?”

Monica didn’t answer.

“Does this have anything to do with the man you were telling me about? Julian Graves? Is he stalking you or something?”

Monica made a distressed sound. “Oh, I never should’ve dragged you into this.”

“Of course you should’ve! You’re my best friend, Mo. Tell me what’s going on so I can help you.”

“He’s dangerous, Izzy. Very dangerous. And powerful. I took something, and he wants it back, but I—I don’t know who I can trust.”

“You can trustme. Why don’t you bring me whatever it was you took, and I’ll take it to Ash.”

“The man who fired you for doing the right thing?” The sizzle of indignation in Monica’s voice made Izzy smile.Therewas her best friend, the woman she knew and loved like a sister.

“Ash is a good man,” she promised. “One of the best I’ve ever known. He can help us. I know he will.”

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