The Finish Line (The Ravenhood, #3)

by Kate Stewart

To me, love was always conditional—until her.

start toward the winding cliff-side staircase that leads to my finish line.

She’s my mirror, my judge, and has revealed herself as my sole purpose. She brought direction back to my deadening soul when I lost my way, and she continues to guide me back, a star too bright to ignore, no matter how far I stray.

I’ve dreamt this dream a thousand times over the years, and both my heart and head know the way.

whole time. After I exhausted every resource, I finally went to him to ask for help. He was expecting me.”

I cup her face, her cheeks ice cold. “Because I want this, more than anything else. I want this, you, us.”

“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.”

Mon Trésor.”

that I knew I was irrevocably in

love with my enemy’s daughter. With a shared look and with a confession I felt to the depth of my soul, I broke my own creed and gave in to the deepest part of me, and my soul-deep ache for a connection with her. Within seconds of recalling those minutes, I surrender to the heat coursing through me.

“The man in your life, your partner, your soulmate, your other half,”

The stars have managed to pave the

way for us again, and I’m not fucking up another chance to collide with her.

It’s taken me years to admit that the thing I fought the hardest brings me the most peace—as much pea...

“I won’t pretend to know how I hurt you or what it felt like when I did, Cecelia. But I do know how much it hurt me, and that’s enough to know I deserve your anger and caution. But right now, I need you too goddamned much to stay away when you’re right fucking here in front of me. When you are who you are, which is, in case you’re wondering, the other fucking half of me. I’m sorry for the things I’ve done, but it’s time you let me show you how much.”

“I’m expecting huge fucking dividends on my investment, Mr. King, a big payoff. You break my trust, my fucking heart again, and I’ll put a bullet in you my damn self. I’m still angry. I’m still trying to get used to the idea of you being here. All is not well with us, yet, but facts are facts, and the facts are, we’re in this together, no matter what. There’s a lot that hasn’t changed and never will. And sadly, I do love you, too.”

Frères du Corbeau (Brothers of the Raven) was my stepfather’s pipe dream.

fin.” I’ve been selfish, but I had my reasons. There’s always a reason for everything I do. And if that’s our story, then know I’m here to give you, us, a better ending.

“The only reason I believe God exists is because you do.

“I’m existing here, but we can make a life here if that’s what you want. I’ll give you whatever you want. Dream with me again, Cecelia. Dream a thousand more dreams with me, and I will make them all come true. I can give you promises. Promises I couldn’t before.”

“Yes.” He shakes his head. “I want to give you a better story. I just wish I could give you a better man. My brother was the better man.”

“It’s tragically ironic how well I know your pain because maybe if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to look at you now and tell you I forgave you a long time ago. It was an accident. I felt how deeply you regretted it the day we met. Your mistake changed my life in an irreparable way, but it also shaped me

into the man I am today—for better or worse—a man who loves your daughter. It’s crazy that somehow, despite what you took away, both you and Roman gifted me the only person in the world capable of loving me in a way that fills me with so much peace. Cecelia is my home and my reason for trying to forgive myself, and she needs to be your reason too. From what I’ve gathered, you’ve punished yourself long enough, and it’s affected you and your relationship with your daughter. It’s not too late for either of us, Diane. Cecelia is making me believe it.”

“Come on out, Mon Trésor, I know you’ve b...

Every minute counts, every second I’m with him is a gift, and I’m fucking wasting it.

I’ve always been a believer in the saying ‘listen to your elders,’ and though he fit the criteria, he was far wiser than any other man I’ve encountered before and after I met him, with one exception—my brother.

I don’t know if I believe in the afterlife, but I want to because I don’t have a close living relative left, and it’s comforting to think they all may be reunited somewhere and waiting.

I haven’t spoken a word to my brother since he died. Every day I wonder if he waits for word from me. And even with the guilt that he might be waiting, I can’t find the words. I don’t know if I ever will.

“This is the only time I’ll watch you read it. Whether or not you read my confessions is up to you. And Sensodyne.” “What?” “The toothpaste I like.” He shrugs. “I have sensitive gums.” I can’t help my laugh as I sniffle back the rest of my tears. “I love you.”

And I never thought I would ever want these things, but I do. And I want to do these things with you.”

The renewed connection between us feels molecular, and it hurts as it heals. I’m certain that if God granted me only one minute of life on this earth, I would want it to be this minute, this moment with him, where I know exactly why I’m alive and who for. Gazing up at the love of my life, I accept him fully back into his place in my heart, giving in to the one thing I’ve never had control of, and never will as long as his own heart beats. Because it’s mine. “I love you,” I murmur.

“I’m addicted to you and have been since the minute I touched you. In the past…sometimes I would go…a very long time without any human contact at all. I was so focused for so long, it wasn’t a priority for me—until you. One hit of you and I was like a fucking fiend. Now I’m positive that I was waiting for the right woman, for you. And it’s a good thing I saved what little patience I have for you, or I’d be a dead man.”

“We do love her,”

Life, as I knew it, was over the second I laid eyes on her. All former versions of me were erased when I exchanged hate for love. It would have been so much easier to hate her. At one point I did, and at times I still do because of what she’s capable of doing to me. But it’s the surrender that changed my life, changed me as a man, eased my mind, and filled my soul.

“I’ve been alone my whole goddamned life. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

Despite how we happened, her love is the purest thing I’ve ever known. And I’m about to punish her for it.

“You didn’t believe me, brother, but I believe you, now. Cecelia may be yours, but The Triple Falls chapter is mine, and as long as she’s here, she’s under my fucking protection. I’ve been running things here since you’ve been globetrotting, and if we’re going by rules, and business is business, you best goddamn mark her for no other reason than that. If you need anything from us from here on out, you’re going to have to ask nicely. Until then, we’re both done with you. You listening, big brother? We’re done with you on the non-business front. Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

But I’m not fucking sharing her, not with you, not with my brother, not with a goddamn soul! That’s where you fucked up, Sean, and you know it. Her place is with me. End of.”

He died in love with you. I thieved from him and broke his heart, his trust. What reason did he have not to step in front of those bullets?”

“‘I’ve never seen him light up like that with any woman.’ That’s what he said to me that night. That’s what you wanted to know when you were sober.”

“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.”

“I love you, Ezekiel Tobias King, so fucking much,”

“even if you force me to prove myself to you time and time again. I told you I wouldn’t fucking hesitate, and I meant it.” His brows crease into a deep V. “You made me a Raven. You gave me my wings, so I took it upon myself to use them.” “What?”

“You’re a protector, my King. It’s who you are, who you were born to be, and I can’t seem to stay mad at you for it. But I am a protector too, my love, and it’s time you see that.”

“You did good, Pup.”

“I’m convinced by my own experience that it’s possible to love more than once in a lifetime. And honestly, I never thought I would see her again after she left Triple.”

“Only Dom.”

“Yeah, man, of course we looked into him while we were there. We’ve had your back the whole time. Always. And would have had it well before that, had you not been so fucking

“You don’t have to anymore. We own him,”

“The worst day of our lives was the day we broke your heart.”