Page 24 of Beyond the Hate

“I need to…” I wave toward the exit.

“Go on,” Rhett says. “I’ve got things handled here.”

“Say hi to Paisley for us,” Kai hollers as I hurry out of the distillery. He chuckles but I ignore him in my haste to get to Paisley.

Is she okay? According to the smuggler’s grapevine, no one was seriously injured during the storm. But some injuries aren’t visible. If her brewery is destroyed, she’s going to be wrecked.

I jump in my SUV and drive as fast as I can toFive Fathoms Brewing. Unlike the distillery, the brewery is located near the town of Smuggler’s Rest.

The parking lot is crowded when I arrive. I scan the area for Paisley but I don’t spot her amongst the crowd. There’s a container for debris set up near the brewery and a steady file of people dropping debris into it. Damn. Those are the remnants of the roof.

I notice Nova standing near the container holding a baby in her arms.

She smiles as I near. “Hey, you. Everything okay at the distillery?”

“Yes. We got lucky.”

Her smile dims. “We didn’t.”

“I’m sorry.”

The baby in her arms cries and she jostles her. “Can you hold her for a moment?”

She doesn’t give me a chance to respond before shoving the baby into my arms. “This is Iliana.”

I glance down at the little girl. I haven’t held a baby in my arms since Kai.

“You’re good with her.”

“You sound surprised.”

“You’re wearing a three-piece suit and shoes that probably cost more than my entire shoe collection and I’m married to a millionaire who enjoys treating me to new shoes.”

I frown. “They’re only clothes.”

Her nose wrinkles. “They don’t exactly scream smuggler, though, do they?”

“I guess not.”

I thought Paisley was being bratty when she pointed out my clothes. But maybe she’s right. Maybe my clothes make me appear to be an outsider on the island I grew up on. The island I consider home. The island I have no plans to ever leave ever again.

“Paisley’s around back.”

I don’t bother lying and saying I’m not here for Paisley. What’s the point?

I hand her Iliana. “She’s a beautiful girl. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs but her attention is all on her baby girl. I don’t blame her. She’s precious. If I had a baby, I’d give her all of my attention, too.

I force those thoughts away and make my way around the building. I nearly gasp when I encounter the devastation back here. There are pieces of the roof everywhere.

I scan the area until I spot Paisley. My feet travel toward her before I realize I’m moving.

“Paisley,” I call.

She stands up and spins toward me. Strands of her hair have escaped her ponytail and are matted to her face. She runs the back of her hand over her forehead to wipe away the sweat leaving a streak of dirt behind. Despite it all, she’s never looked more beautiful.

“What do you want? Did you come to gloat?”

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