Page 114 of Tabitha

“Holy shit,” River whispers in awe.

“Is that the missing gold?” Though I’m staring at it, I’m not really sure I believe that it’s real.

“No,” Bast answers for the group. “The government deals in stamped gold bars. This came from the ground.”

Pierce reaches over, grabs my hand, and gives it a comforting squeeze. “Your father sent you here to find it. He probably spent his whole life on this mountain, digging it out.”

“But how?” I can’t seem to focus on the facts, and it leaves me spinning out.

“The mines,” Gage supplies, lifting his phone and searching a database that shows old mining camps and claims. “There are probably over a hundred mines in this area alone.”

“But that would have to take…” I’m at a complete loss on how to calculate the time.

“It would take decades.” Pierce gathers me to his chest. “It must have taken him his whole life to gather that much gold.”

Feeling lost, I glance at him, unable to follow their line of reasoning. “I don’t…I just…but why?”

Bast bundles me up in his arms and carries me away. I can hear the guys going back to digging my father’s grave, but I can’t seem to focus on anything, feeling disconnected from the world and overwhelmed. “In his own way, your father loved you. It’s probably the only way he could show it.”

He sits down on a log with me in his lap, his tight arms the only thing keeping my mind from spinning off the deep end.

“From what I gather, your father was a bastard to you when you were young, but he was still your father.” He cups my face, gazing down at me with soft, amber eyes. “You have the right to grieve the loss. I’ll give you ten minutes.”

His permission breaks the dam on my emotions, and I shatter. Regrets don’t fix anything. No one can change the past. Despite everything, I like being me…assassin and all.

Especially the assassin part.

Peace settles over me at the realization, and I scrub away my tears.

“I can’t hate him. While he might have been an asshole, my father helped forge me into the person I am today.” I brush my cheek against his shoulder, his spicy teakwood scent like a drug. “For that, I will forever be thankful.”

“Me too,” he murmurs, his voice a rumble under my ear, and he kisses the top of my head.

When I look up, the others have gathered in front of me, silently offering their support. Pierce patiently holds out a hand. “We’re ready.”

I accept his hand, and he pulls me to my feet, tucking me against his chest. We come to a stop under the willow tree, the branches almost brushing the ground as they sway in the breeze. I no longer feel the weight of my father hanging over me like an ominous shadow. “It’s almost peaceful here. I think he’ll finally be able to rest.”

We stand silently for another ten minutes before I finally take a step back. “My father is gone from this place. It’s time for me to move forward too.”

The guys share a glance between them, but it’s Bast who speaks. “Where do you want to go?”

My mind goes completely blank. While I love the Belladonnas, I’ve outgrown the mansion. “I think I’d like to go somewhere new, somewhere we can start fresh.”

The guys all nod in agreement, waiting expectantly, and my gaze falls to the crate full of gold. “Maybe we can use money to help others who are in situations similar to mine when I was a child. The ones who slip through the cracks, the ones others have given up on. We can build a place where we can teach them how to survive and give them the fresh start they deserve.”

Bast rocks back on his heels, a contemplative expression on his face. “And your other work?”

“I don’t think I can give it up completely—people who do evil deserve to pay for their sins—but maybe we can add it as a service that HAVOC offers to select customers.” I nibble on my bottom lip and glance hesitantly at the others. “Bast can be in charge of finding the jobs, Gage in charge of vetting them.” Both men glance at each other, then nod in acceptance.

River is practically dancing as he shifts from foot to foot, and I smile at him. “River is in charge of the armory.”

“Yes!” He pumps a fist in the air, a triumphant smile breaking across his face.

“And me?” Pierce lifts a curious brow, a tiny smile crooking his lips, but a hint of uncertainty lurks in his eyes.

I purse my lips and cross my arms. “I figured you would keep your current job—continue looking after me while I’m on my missions.”

A breathtaking smile lights up his ice blue eyes, his gorgeous dimples flashing, and it’s like my ability to form coherent thoughts vanishes. He grabs the back of my neck, pulling me close, and takes my mouth in a rough kiss that weakens my knees. When he lifts his head, I’m breathless, practically clinging to him, and my bruised lips tingle at his possessiveness.

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