Page 61 of Shattered Hearts

Zane laughs. “I told you, I see everything. Even what happened at Max’s dinner. Stella likes to think I don’t know, but I do. You and Linc were there, so I let it slide. Nothing and no one will ever take me unaware again. It’s exhausting, but it’s what I have to do for my family. Every time you see Zarah, every time you meet with Stella, I know.”

“You didn’t know we saw Willow Black.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “Did I say I didn’t?”

“No,” I say grudgingly.

“To be fair,Truth or Darehelped me out with that one, and Douglas wasn’t that far behind. I don’t want to suffocate Stella, and I try like hell to let her be. You don’t know how crazy I am trying to keep my family together while giving them the space they need to be happy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,help me.”

“Yeah.”

We still have plenty of miles on the road, and we’re silent through most of them. When we reach the outskirts of the city, Zane asks, “Stay for dinner?”

“I can’t. I need to look in on Baby. I’ve been gone all day.”

“Go get her and bring her out to play. Spend the night. Our house is just as much Zarah’s as it is mine and Stella’s. If it gets late and you want to start staying over sometimes, I won’t say anything.”

I scoff. “That won’t be awkward.”

“It’s more awkward to pretend it’s not happening. Zarah likes having you at the house. She shines when we’re all at the table. I want her to have more of that.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I pack a bag and bring Baby out to Zarah’s, much to the delight of both of them. After a pleasant meal, we walk with the dogs through the woods, and I kiss her under a sky full of stars and the bright moon. I want to believe there’s nothing more important than the two of us, right here, right now, but that would be stupid and untrue. Things are out there, things that could threaten what we have. Things thatwillthreaten what we have. It’s only a matter of when and where and how.

I thought I’d be uncomfortable in Zarah’s room, changing out of my clothes and brushing my teeth, knowing Zane and Stella were down the hall, but it’s not too bad. It would have been, had Ingrid still lived there, still occupied the room connected to Zarah’s by a huge bathroom.

There still isn’t any word, and we wouldn’t have news for a while about what happened to Ingrid Flannigan.

When we find out, it’s bad. It’s very, very bad.

CHAPTER SIX

Zarah

Waking up in Gage’s arms is the most wonderful feeling ever. I stretch, our legs tangled together, my hair stuck in his beard. Stifling a giggle, I pull the strands free and lie on my side, feel him breathe, memorize his features.

It’s like watching a giant sleep. Even in my queen, he takes up most of the bed and I slept cuddled into him all night.

I’m happy Zane has given me this. It might not seem like much since I spend the night at Gage’s whenever I want, but this tells me my brother is willing to compromise, that he accepts my relationship. Instead of fighting it, he’s inviting Gage into our family, and I shimmer with joy.

His eyes crack open, the golden glints sparking in my nightlight’s weak glow. It can’t be past seven, but Gage will need to shower and get on the road to go to work. Last night, during dinner, Zane and Gage told Stella and me about what they found out talking to Alan Guthrie. My dinner sat in a lump in my stomach. I don’t know what it means, that Senator Cook owns Quiet Meadows, but it can’t be anything good.

“Good morning,” he mumbles, snuggling me.

“Good morning.”

“Folgers had it wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“They said coffee’s the best part of waking up, but that’s not true when I get to wake up to you.”

I press my face into my pillow to quiet the laugh. “You need a big cup to rinse some of that cheesiness out of your mouth.”

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