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In the past, had she gotten this message from Delaney, she would have deleted it out of spite.
But something had happened on the boat, and then on the cliff with Gabriela. Raisa had realized that not only did she trust the woman Delaney had become—despite the fact that she’d killed Isabel—but she also could more clearly see the girl she’d been.
There was no way her heart could ache for Gabriela and the way she’d been manipulated by Isabel and not acknowledge that Delaney had been molded in that same crucible.
She could have held on, let Gabriela pull her down into the waves with her, just like she’d been letting her resentment toward a young Delaney ruin any chance she had at having family now. Or she could let go of her own hang-ups and live.
Raisa tapped on the screen until the option came up to create a new contact.
This didn’t mean shehadto contact Delaney. They were never going to be the type to call on holidays and birthdays just to chat.
But it felt nice to know that, if she needed it, the number was there.
She toggled back to the text thread, and typed:
Who dis?
Delaney didn’t respond, but she liked to think her sister laughed.
Raisa put her phone away and watched the sky outside for a long time as it darkened into evening.
She almost didn’t notice when the beeping changed.
Almost absently, her eyes slid toward the bed, only to find Kilkenny staring back at her.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, her pulse racing as adrenaline shot through her bloodstream. She blinked against the rush of tears, but they fell anyway while she scrambled for his hand.
She needed to call for someone, right now. But she couldn’t.
It was only in this moment, as he squinted up at her, everything probably too bright from so many days in darkness, that she realized she hadn’t thought he’d wake up.
Raisa had clutched at the hope offered to her, but she hadn’t actually believed it.
A sob caught in the back of her throat, and she brought her shaking free hand to press up against her mouth.
Kilkenny whispered something she couldn’t hear.
She took a deep breath, gathering in her silly emotions. “What was that?”
This time it was stronger. His eyes were focused as he forced the words out through cracked lips. “You got your guy.”
Warmth flooded Raisa, and she laughed while tears ran down her face. She could hear the commotion in the hall. The staff would be rushing in within seconds. But this moment, right here? It was just for them.
“I got my guy.”