Secret Haven (Sparrow Falls, #6)

by Catherine Cowles

“Foul language is not welcome in this house.” “Just like my naked yoga isn’t?” Lolli huffed. Cope’s face scrunched as he shook his head, making his light-brown hair flutter in a way I was sure the high school girls would sigh over. “Please do not remind me. I’m scarred for life.” Lolli stuck out her tongue at him. “It’s called a sun salutation, and it’s your fault for coming over to my guesthouse unannounced.”

Oh Lolli

Kye was an invisible brand on my bones. Something I carried with me wherever I went, in whatever I did—even if no one ever knew.

Noah made a humming noise, his hands gripping the back of my chair as he thought about his answer. Instead of Noah’s voice, I heard a deeper one. One that held a rasp that felt like fingertips skating down my spine. “Not sure what you’re looking for, but I can tell you where it’s fucking not. And that’s in Fal’s cleavage.” Oh, hell.

“I can always count on you.” She could. Always. It didn’t matter if she needed me in the middle of the night or from a million miles away. I’d be there.

“Smells like snow.” “Bite your tongue.” She laughed as she settled on one of the benches, and the sound rattled around in my empty chest, making itself at home there. “You never were one for the white stuff,” she said, pulling her jacket tighter. “People think it’s all enchanting, but it’s really just a cold, wet, broken bone waiting to happen.”

Truth

“Work hard, play hard.” That had a scowl twisting her lips. “I do not need to know about your extracurricular activities.” A sour sensation swept through my gut, but it was better this way: letting Fallon believe countless women were warming my bed, when the truth was the damn thing was as frigid as the Arctic tundra.

“Do I get some of that apple pie, too?” Kye asked hopefully. Mom arched a brow at him. “That depends. Are you and Lolli going to start trouble?” The grin on Kye’s face widened. “Of course.” Mom threw up her hands and moved back into the house. “I give up.” “We just like to keep you on your toes,” Kye said. “You like to give me gray hair,” Mom shot back.

Those girls were Kye’s sisters. And he had no idea they existed.

“I have an idea that might work,” Fallon began. “But it is completely unhinged.” Energy and something that felt a lot like hope crackled through me. “What? I’ll do anything. Hell, I’ll cover my tattoos with body makeup if I have to. Wear polo shirts and take up golf. Whatever you think will make me acceptable in the court’s eyes.” Fallon’s delicate throat worked as she struggled to swallow. “Marry me.”

“It’s not because I don’t want to. I’ve been dreaming of you since I was sixteen. You’ve been my one spark of light in the hellish dark. The only good thing in my life. But I won’t risk losing you or the family you gave me. Because I’m sure of one thing: I’ll fuck this up. And I’m not ruining the only good in my life because of it.”

“When I lost you, lost what we were, I needed something to hold on to. I thought if I built the house, if I lived in it, I could still have you with me—the you that you were to me back then. But when they finished it a few years ago, it didn’t feel right…living here without you.”

“You’re my person. The spark in the shadows. You carried me through when I didn’t think I’d survive. So, I’m never going to stop demanding that this world give you everything.”

“I will honor you every day of this marriage. And every day after it’s done. And no matter what comes, my battered and blackened heart will always be yours.”

“Your vengeful streak is slightly terrifying,” I muttered. Her smile widened. “Thank you.” “I didn’t mean it as a compliment.” Fallon pushed to her feet. “I’m taking it as one anyway.”

“Hot damn,” Lolli said with a grin as Mom released us. “I thought you two were making a run for the priesthood and the nunnery, but you were just getting down and dirty on the side.”

“Benny, I’m pretty sure if you bring her a Ring Pop, she’ll say yes.” I chuckled. “I have no doubt.” He looked back and forth between us. “If you’re wrong, you gotta help me drown my sorrows in Yoo-hoo.” Mateo let out a strangled sound. “I’m sorry, did a six-year-old just say he might need to drown his sorrows?” Benny looked up at Mateo. “I’m very mature for my age.” Mateo shook his head. “I got no doubt, little dude.”

“I want to make a home for my sisters. I want to make sure they know I helped choose the things that will be a part of that home.” Ellie sucked in a hiccupping breath. “That’s so sweet. I think I’m going to cry.” “Please don’t,” Kye said, a slight panic in his voice. “Trace’ll deck me for sure if you go home tearstained.” That had her chuckling. “I solemnly swear not to tell him it was you.” “Thank God,” Kye muttered.

“What in the actual hell, Mateo?” a familiar and furious voice demanded. And Fallon didn’t stop there. Before I could tell her that I was okay, she grabbed one of Evan’s mitts and climbed into the ring. A second later, she was whacking Mateo with it. “That isn’t the shit you pull on a friend.” Mateo held up his arms in a half-assed attempt to defend himself. “We were sparring.” She just hit him harder. “You saw that he was distracted. That’s not skill, that’s playing dirty.” “You tell him, Fal,” Evan cheered. “Knee him in the junk,” Jericho yelled. Fallon just smacked Mateo harder with the mitt. “You’re gonna need to watch your back. You⁠—” I caught her around the waist and lifted her into the air. “Easy, Sparrow.”

“It’s happening,” I whispered. A smile spread across Fallon’s face, lighting her from within. “It’s happening.” And she’d made it so. Had given everything to do it. I didn’t stop myself from kissing her. I lied and told myself it was because we had an audience, but I knew the truth. It was because I fucking wanted to. I needed her more than anything on this Earth because she was my air. She made it so I could breathe. My fingers sank into her hair as I took her mouth. My tongue slid in, desperate for a hit of that taste, that air. And I drank her down, grabbed anything I could get a hold of.

Rho’s hazel eyes filled. “So, you gave up everything you ever wanted so he would be safe?” Tears spilled over then, flowing down my cheeks and leaving tracks in their wake. “I’d do it again. I’d do it over and over if it meant he’d be safe.”

“Here’s the truth: I’m okay. I’m also not okay. But in the end, I’m okay.”

“Cowabunga!” Gracie yelled, running full tilt at Evan, who was dressed in full-body pads. She let loose two punches and then a kick.

“If you like your eyes in your head, get them the hell off my wife,” I growled, those last two words feeling far more right than they probably should. Fallon straightened and turned around, realizing just what our view had been. Her eyes narrowed on Mateo. “Watch out,” Evan called. “She’ll take you down and not think twice.” “Especially since you’re already on my s-list,” Fallon clipped. Mateo held up both hands. “I’d never. Utmost respect for the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Gracie glared at Mateo. “You can’t say that about Fallon. She’s my brother’s wife, and he’s way bigger than you.” My lips twitched. “What she said.”

“Holy fucking hell! What was that?” Mateo screeched in a high-pitched voice that sounded like he was going through puberty. I released Fallon, turning to see Mateo spitting his mouthguard onto the floor of the practice ring. He gagged and reached for his water. “Oh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Fallon singsonged. “I heard drinking water after ingesting something spicy just makes it burn worse.”

Gracie looked up at Fallon with wide eyes. “You put peppers in his mouthguard?” Fallon shrugged. “He sucker punched your brother. He kinda earned it.” Gracie’s face turned from amused to pissed the hell off. She marched over to the practice ring, ducked between the ropes, and started punching Mateo. “Hey! Ow! Shit! She’s tiny, but she’s fierce,” he called, trying to block her hits. “Take it like a professional,” Evan called. “Don’t you hit my brother,” Gracie yelled.

“I’m sorry I judged him based on appearances. I’m starting to see that I have some work to do in that arena.” I sent her a small smile. “Well, to be fair, he does look a little scary.” Mila chuckled. “At least it’s scary hot.” I burst out laughing. “Don’t tell him that. His ego’s big enough.”

“Go climb that scary hot man like a tree,” Mila called as I grabbed my jacket and bag. “You know,” I said, glancing over my shoulder, “he has some scary hot friends.” Mila’s head cocked to the side. “Color me intrigued.”

Cope shot up straight on the end of the sectional. “I’m not a prude.” His gaze cut to Sutton. “Tell them about that thing I did the other night.” She gaped at him. “This is like when you wanted me to tell everyone you had a big dick. Not going to happen, Hotshot.” He let out a huff. “Big, kinky dick. That’s all you gotta know.” Anson’s face screwed up. “That makes it sound like your dick is knotted and warty.” Cope opened his mouth, but Sutton held up a hand to stop him. “I am also not telling your family how beautiful your penis is.” Cope grinned. “You heard it here. Big, beautiful dick.”

I looked up at Hayden, who hadn’t moved an inch. Her face had gone pale, too, and her hands trembled at her sides. “I thought you were giving us back,” she whispered. “What?” I rasped. “I thought you were giving us back.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I thought this was one last dinner, and you were gonna tell us we were too much.” I shoved to my feet, already closing the distance between us. “You are never too much for me. You’re my sister.”

“Are those dinosaur pajamas?” I asked, one corner of my mouth kicking up. Pink hit the apples of her cheeks. “You know I love Jurassic Park.” “Because you have good taste. It’s the best movie ever made.” “I thought that was Die Hard?” she challenged. “Die Hard is the best Christmas movie. Jurassic Park is the best all-around movie.” Her perfectly plump lips twitched. “Good to know.”

“Guess what. It didn’t work. I can still taste you. I still feel your hands on my skin. Your fingers moving inside me.” “Sparrow,” he croaked. “Because you live in me.” The words were like missiles. “No matter how many times I’ve tried to dig or burn you out, you’re still there. Because you’re a part of me.”

“What is it?” Kye asked, searching my eyes. “What…what if we aren’t compatible that way?” I asked, biting the corner of my lip. Kye tugged it gently from between my teeth. “There are many things I’m scared of, but that is sure as hell not one of ‘em.” “Really?” “Really.” He brushed his lips over mine. Featherlight. “You wanna test it out?” A different feeling bubbled up inside me, swirling and stoking the fire that had already started earlier that morning. “Yes.”

He traced our fingers over a single band of scrawl I recognized. My handwriting. My name. Over and over around his thick corded muscles. “You’ve always owned me, Sparrow. I just wanted to remember that. Have your brand on me forever.” My fingers ghosted over his thigh, my words, my writing, my name. “When?” I croaked. “Since the day I turned eighteen.” I forced my gaze to his. “Kyler.” “I love you. I’ve always loved you.” Pleasure and pain warred in equal measure. “I love you, too. It’s always been you.”

Hayden leaned into Fallon. “You gonna tell me why my sisters hate this dude?” “Because he made eyes at Fal,” Gracie informed her. “He tried to look at her boobies.” Evan let out a strangled laugh as he crossed his arms over his chest. “These two are gonna take you out.” Mateo huffed. “I get it, I get it. Fallon is spoken for.” He covered his eyes. “I’m a monk around her from now on.”

The second he did, a pop sounded. Then magenta glitter flew into his face and all over him. A few choice words left his mouth in Spanish before he turned, looking like he’d just gotten a glitter facial. “Fallon,” he growled. She beamed at him. “I felt like you hadn’t learned your lesson quite yet.” “Sparrow. That crud gets everywhere. We’re gonna be picking pink glitter out of the mats for months,” I complained. She simply shrugged. “Worth it.”

Fallon leaned into me, wrapping her arms around one of mine. “I’m good, Kyler.” “You know what it does to me when you call me that.” Her mouth curved. “Kyler.” I kissed her long and slow until Gracie hooted. Forcing myself to pull back, I grinned at my sisters.

“What. Did. You. Call. My wife?” I snarled.

She’d drawn a fluffy white cat wearing a bejeweled tiara with tons of other jewels and sparkles around it. Above the cat, in huge letters, it read, PRINCESS. Everyone went silent for a moment as we took it in. Hayden started coughing in an attempt to hide her laughter, but Clem’s face screwed up. “Gracie, Kye doesn’t want to be a princess.” Gracie frowned. “Why not? They get way cooler clothes and jewels than the princes.” Kye beamed as he rounded the island. “Hell yeah, I want to be a princess.” He pulled off his dark Blackheart Ink shirt and tugged the pink one over his head. “I’m meant to be a princess.”

“Everyone’s gonna be jealous and want one of their own.” Hayden squeezed Gracie’s shoulder, a mischievous smile playing at her lips. “You know, we could get the supplies and make shirts for all Kye’s brothers for Christmas.” My hand shot in the air. “Oh, oh. Me! I want to help!” Hayden laughed. “This is going to be too much fun.”

“No one who walks this Earth is perfect, Kye. The best we can do is let our mistakes shape us for the better. I see you doing that every damn day.”

“Fuck, my eyes are leaking,” Gabriel muttered. Anson slapped him on the back. “Feel those feelings, my man.” Trace shook his head. “What happened to you?”

I slid a hand along her jaw and into her silken mane. “Tell me what’s in that beautiful mind of yours.” “I want you to tattoo me.”

“Penelope,” I began. Her multi-colored hair whipped over her shoulder as she turned back to me. “What?” “You’re fired.” She gaped at me, her sparkly lipstick only adding to the fish-like effect. “You can’t fire me.” “This my business?” I asked. “Yes, but⁠—” “Even if it wasn’t, I’d have a case for harassment—both the sexual and the good, old-fashioned bitch kind. I probably could’ve kept on taking that brand of bullshit, but if you think you can make my wife, the woman I love more than air, feel uncomfortable in my presence, then respectfully…get fucked. And get your ass out of my shop.”

“Can I lock this?” My brows lifted. “You plan on taking advantage of me back here?” Fallon laughed.

“Hope this is proof of how much I love you that I’m willing to tattoo you with a hard-on.” A laugh bubbled out of me as he tossed the paper towel. “Sorry?” He bent over and kissed me quickly. “You should be.”

Kye sat up in one fluid motion, ripping off his tee and maneuvering me as he shucked his sweats. “You’re gonna let me do the work while you guide the show, okay?”

“Evan?” I croaked.

WHAT

“He doesn’t fucking love me. He doesn’t care about me. I thought he was different. I thought he proved it when he took me in after I tagged his shop. But he’s just like our dad. Selfish. Greedy. Destructive. Only cares about his goddamned self.” Everything around me slowed. I felt every beat of my heart. The two-part cadence over and over as blood roared in my ears. “He’s just like our dad.” “Your dad?” I croaked. “Our fucking dad,” Evan snarled.

“Evan,” I whispered. “Kye’s your brother?” His gaze cut to me, all signs of the tears gone. “Rex Blackwood is my dad. Or he was. Kye’s my half-brother. Should’ve been, anyway.” Evan slid the knife from his belt. “Now, he’s nothing to me. And he’s going to feel that pain. The same way I did. How it guts you when you lose everything you thought you had.”

She and Cope helped me inside, where I was greeted by a massive WELCOME HOME DADDY KYE KYE sign. There were all sorts of drawings around it, too: tattoos, boxing gloves, sparrows, and some pot leaves and little magic mushrooms. I turned to Lolli. “Let me guess what your additions were.” She beamed. “My boy is home. I just wanted to send him some good healing vibes. I tried to make you a special healing blend, but someone”—her gaze shot to Nora—“said she’d steal my stash if I tried.” “Your healing blend had your best friend seeing pink bunnies for a week,” Trace cut in. Walter looked up from his spot on an overstuffed chair. “Forget pink bunnies. She dosed me last week, and I thought I was a T-rex. I was running all around the house with baby arms, roaring at things.” He held his arms close to his chest, flinging his hands around to demonstrate.

Dead