Page 105 of SINS & Riley
Instantly, Boris frowns. “You touch, you die.”
Okay. I officially love this guy.
He slips out of the car, pops on his hat, and swings my door open.
Two wood-carved double doors open just a crack, and for half a second, my whole body braces.
Something shoots out—white, fast, low, and …furry?
A warm, wriggling ball of fluff barrels into my arms, tongue wet and frantic against my cheek.
“Truffles?”
The dog I rescued and handed to Kennedy as a birthday gift. Okay, gift is generous. More like shoved him into her arms and gave her zero choice in the matter.
Because love doesn’t always slip neatly into place. Sometimes you’ve got to jam it in and hold tight with both hands.
My laugh fractures into a sob as I clutch him tight, burying my face in his fur. He smells like grass and sunshine.
And dog.
Bleh.
God, the sweetest mutt in the universe is in serious need of a bath.
Truffles licks away my tears like we are long lost friends and he’s been waiting forever for this moment.
“God, I missed you,” I blubber into his fur.
“Not as much as I missed you.”
I freeze. My head jerks up.
And there she is.
Kennedy.
Her face is so familiar it hurts. But different, too—softer, radiant, glowing in a way that doesn’t match the last memory I have of her.
My chest caves, the air punched right out of me.
I blink through tears. Zver gave me my sister back.
We collide, arms wrapping around each other, clinging so hard I swear I’ll never let go.
I don’t know how long we stand there—seconds, minutes, maybe a year. And when we finally pull apart, I can’t stop staring at her face.
There’s so much I want to tell her, I don’t even know where to start.
Then my gaze drops.
To the healthy swell of her belly.
And in this beautiful, heart-wrecking moment, all I manage to say is?—
“Holy fucking shit.”
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