Page 64 of Wicked

I lead the way to my family’s gravesite. My father is buried between my uncle and my mother. His grave marker is simple: name and date of his birth and his death. Shephard squeezes my hand.

“Soon, Harper. Justice is coming.”

“I’m not seeking revenge. Don’t do something for me that will further stain your morals.”

He scoffs. “What morals? When it comes to you, everything is fair game.”

“Murder is off the plate, Shephard. Please.”

At my side, Ryker is quiet. Contemplative. Curious. I’m expecting a slew of questions once we’re alone, but the thing I’ve discovered about Ryker is that he keeps to his word. He hasn’t pried into my personal business, instead leaving the control over what I’m willing and ready to tell him in my hands.

“There’ll be no murder. The bastard who killed your father is an arrogant, loud-mouth son of a bitch. He’ll hang himself with his own actions and words. You’ll see. Men I trust are watching him. They’ll send news of his death.”

“Shephard.”

I’m done speaking of violence. He heeds my warning. Letting go of my hand, he sets a bouquet of flowers on my dad’s grave marker. I bow my head. My throat tightens. My eyes fill with tears.

Shephard curves his arm over the small of my back. Ryker releases my hand and covers the same spot, his arm restingaboveShephard’s. He’s such an alpha male, needing to take the top spot in this complicated relationship of ours.

I blink past my tears. They fall on my father’s grave, the drops staining the stone marker.

“My father was a sinner. Pride. Lust. Wrath.”

In the corner of my eye, Shephard’s body pulls taut. He thinks I believe the same of him.

“My mother also made mistakes.”

I made them too. Oh, God, I did. Unsteady on my feet, I lower myself onto my knees.

“I love you, Dad.” I graze my fingers over the date of his death. “Please be kind to Mother in Heaven. It’s your second chance. Your only chance to make things right for the two of you. Good luck, and say hi to her for me.”

At his best, my dad was gentle and kind. Had made my mother laugh. Made her blush crimson too. But his jealousy changed him for the worst.

Is Ryker a jealous guy? I rise to my feet. Ryker laces our fingers. So far, I’m not getting the sense that he is. Not when he bumps his body on mine, tipping me closer to Shephard. I smile through my tears. Ryker wants me to go easy on my first crush.

“Thank you, Shephard, for helping me get home and to my dad again for his birthday. Thank you for bringing Ryker here, too. You’re a good guy.”

I stand on the tips of my wedge heels—another gift from him—and kiss him on the cheek. He turns into me and cradling the side of my face, he clasps me to him.

“You’re welcome, Harper. I’d do anything for you.”

I look up and stare into such beautiful blue eyes, and they’re shining bright with tears for me. He’s hurting. Feels the pain of my losses.

Compassion. Kindness. Has been so patient with me. Five years. Yet I can confidently say our friendship has lasted seven.

I lower onto my heels, freeing me from his hold. He pulls a piece of folded paper from his pocket and tucks it in my palm.

“We’re done, love. You won.”

Without another word, he returns to the car. He walks tall with his head held high, not giving away the defeat in his words earlier.

“What was that about?”

I unfurl my hand and stare at the blood-stained paper. “What I took from him—free will.”

Dark memories surface. My father’s face contorted with anger at seeing his love beneath another man’s body. The surprise on Colton’s face. My mother trying to push Colton off as she begged for their lives.

A rush of emotion overwhelms me. Shame. Relief. Sadness. Dismay. What my uncle must’ve felt as he lay bleeding by the door, his gaze locked on mine as the life faded from his eyes.

---