Page 56 of Diamond Angel

Dima laughs. “Terrifying, huh?”

“You have no clue.”

“You’re gonna crush it.”

I shake my head. “I’m more likely to royally fuck it up. But I have Taylor. She’ll keep me on my toes. Make sure I’m the kind of father that Adam deserves.”

“You’re already the kind of father he deserves.” He claps me on the back again. “You brought them home. You didn’t give up hope.”

“I was never going to give up.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. You’re the most stubborn man alive.” Chuckling, he saunters away to leave me with my thoughts.

Long after Dima leaves, I sit by my desk listening to the rain hit the roof in a melancholy staccato rhythm. I close my eyes and, just like that, I’m back in the cabin. Back swimming in her intoxicating scent. Back luxuriating in all the possibilities that stretched out before us.

Every time it rains, I think of her. And when the clouds are clear and the skies are dry…

…I find myself praying for a storm.

23

ILARION

I wait until 8:30 AM before I knock on her door. She opens it almost immediately, mouth parted in eager surprise, before her gaze dips down to the mug of coffee I’m holding.

“You’ve come bearing gifts,” Celine observes, smiling shyly.

“I’ve come to say good morning.” I hand her the mug.

It’s her favorite one. A white one with gold rimming that says “Boss Babe” in big bold pink letters. It was a gift from one of the maids when we threw a small party celebrating her full recovery. She laughed when she first opened it, as though it was too silly to use, then she promptly started using it and never stopped.

“Come on in,” she says, her eyes scanning down to the crumpled front of the t-shirt I’m wearing. “Did you sleep at your desk again?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

She laughs. “We need to talk about work-life balance.”

“Says the boss babe.”

She snorts and ushers me inside the room. All the little touches in here are Celine’s. The ivory curtains, the blush rugs with the deep piling, the ornate ironwork bed frame. Taking a seat on the jade green sofa, she pats a spot next to her.

“Come,” she says. “Sit with me.”

I sit, taking care not to be so close that our legs are touching.

“Not that I’m complaining, but I don’t usually get early morning visits from you. Are we about to have the conversation you promised me we would have?” she asks, setting her coffee mug aside without even pretending to take a sip.

“We will,” I assure her. “But first, there’s something important I need to tell you.”

Her brows fly up her forehead, but she nods. “Okay.” She takes a deep breath. “I’m all ears.”

“I didn’t say anything before because I wasn’t sure what I would find. But now… I found them, Celine.” I look her in the eye so she knows I’m serious. “I found them.”

She freezes, then closes her eyes and shudders. “Say that again.”

“I found your sister. I found your father.”

Her eyes flutter open, but they’re clouded and incredulous. “Where are they now?”

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