Path of Destruction (Camassia Cove Universe #3)

by Cara Dee

I had a feeling Colleen had reached her limit. On the one hand, I couldn’t blame her even a little. Abel was difficult. So, so, so damn difficult. On the other hand, people refused to open their fucking eyes—and minds—to the possibility that this was not his goddamn fault. I wouldn’t discipline him for something he had absolutely no control over.

"Without dreams," he whispered into a kiss, "we can't have goals." "That’s okay," I whispered back. "I have you."

his deep bluish, mercury gaze sought me out in a crowded room, as if to make sure I was doing okay.

I blew out a shaky breath and stared at the candle I'd replaced. The flame glowed in a red lantern. An old family tradition, Morgan once told me. His grandmother was from Poland, and as she was one of the few family members he'd spoken fondly of, I tried to honor the tradition as often as I could. "Who wouldn’t want a light to guide you home when you're lost?" he'd murmured with his kind grin. "If nothing else, it beats having wilted flowers on your grave."

Unsolicited advice I wanted to give Martha whose nightgown was…disturbing: show less cleavage when you pass seventy-five.

"I'm bitter 'cause I lost." At that, her gaze flickered tentatively to mine, and my pulse kicked up. "I lost everything. My career, my freedom, my friends…I lost you."

I hauled her close to me, and I hugged her tightly. Holy hell. I exhaled heavily. There was an explosion of pressure being released just 'cause I was able to hold her again. I didn’t wanna let her go so quickly this time. I never stood a chance against her. "I've missed you for ten fucking years," I murmured thickly. Ade whimpered and threw her arms around my neck, and relief rolled off of me. I needed her in my life. Tightening my hold on her, I buried my face in her hair and screwed my eyes shut. I need her in my life. How had I been able to fool myself into thinking any different? I remembered how raw my hatred used to be. How I'd blamed her and cursed the day we met.

I'd lost the privilege to be her rock star.

"I told him about intentions." Because actions weren't explained without intentions and context.

Morgan wants you to be happy." I reached across the little space between us and held his hand. "No one is looking to replace him, and it's okay to make room for others in our family.

My possessive ass needed to chill.

Picture me as a dad? Gut punch. There'd be a little runt running around calling me Daddy. And a kick in the nuts for that.

I extended the bag from the drugstore to her, she took it without much of a reaction and headed toward the bathroom. I followed, my heart pounding. "Dude, you're not coming in here when I pee." I frowned. She wasn’t serious, was she? Except, she was, and she didn’t unlock the door until a heart attack later.

She exhaled shakily. "Are we in this together, no matter what?" I nodded. "I'm never leaving your side again." The relief in her was palpable.

Ade hissed. "What do you want?" Easy. "Only everything."

"The older I get, the more fucks I give, I guess." At least, in some aspects. Temporary paint was enough in this case. The best thing Jesse ever told me was during his speech the day Ade and I got married. He smiled and said he had one devil and one angel on his shoulders. Morgan was one, I was the other. And maybe I got choked up when Jesse admitted he enjoyed having them both around.