The Finish Line (The Ravenhood, #3)

by Kate Stewart

“I will kill anyone who threatens you. Anyone. I will fucking end them, Cecelia. I won’t think twice, and I won’t lose sleep over it.”

“You bastards—even when I did your bidding and kept your secrets, you never once believed I could take care of myself.” “He was sincere about the gift, Cecelia. Dom would have wanted you to have it, but no matter how this works out between us, we’re always going to protect you. Always. That’s not debatable.”

“I’m in this, Cecelia. I would give anything to go back, to change the things I did. To be the man you needed me to be, but it’s never been as simple as giving in to how I feel about you. And it’s not any easier now. After what went down, after all you went through, I had to allow you the chance at a normal life, to escape this one.”

“We both know I wasn’t going to make it to thirty, brother. Take care of her.”

“And so, I would very much appreciate it if you would stop fucking looking at my future as if she may be yours. The answer is no, Greg, she won’t be dining with you.”

“Don’t disrespect women, period. They’re twice as evolved as most men will ever be. Don’t take your shit out on them, either. It’s a sign of weakness, and they aren’t punching bags. They’re a sanctuary, and you need to figure that out quick.”

there are bad men capable of doing bad things, and then there are good men capable of doing bad things for good fucking reasons.”

‘Don’t ever count on a man to realize his wrongs on your emotional timeline ’cause men always take way longer to come around and deal with their feelings. They’re emotionally stunted.’”

I don’t really believe words can heal as much as they hurt.

“I remember everything, Cecelia. Every word you said, every look you gave me. Your three kinds of laughs, the details of your dreams, the way your nostrils flare when you’re starting to get pissed. The sting of your slaps, the salt in your tears, the fit of your breasts in my hand. The feel of your mouth, the taste of your pussy, so which part do you need me to remind you of?”

“Har, har. And you think you’re so easy to deal with?” “Non. I’m the devil you chose.” “And who am I?” “You’re the angel who constantly stabs me in the ass with my own pitchfork.”

Loving her has also changed my perception of what matters, of gravity, of my own personal truth, and for better or worse, aided in creating the man I’ve become.

“I’m glad that you loved him, and I’m glad he knew what it felt like to be loved by you before he died, and it’s because of the way you love, Cecelia.”

It was never my heart, Tobias. It was yours.”

“I guess what I’m really asking is, can you keep a secret?”