Page 101 of Crossed

“Well then,” Dalia says. “That was easy.”

“Guess so,” I reply, staring up at the deep red brick. There’s a sense of dread sinking in my gut the longer I look, but I push it back down.

Dalia whistles. “You’re big balling now, sister. Don’t forget about us little people.”

I snort. “Please. It’s insulting you’d even say that.”

She leans in, nudging my shoulder with hers. “Come on. I’ll help you unpack.”

I’m not sure what I expected when we walk into the hotel, maybe for people to look at me funny or for there to be judgment in the air over the fact that Parker chose me for his wife despite who I am and what this town thinks of me, but instead, it’s the opposite. I get smiles from every employee, and as Dalia and I make our way through the entrance and over to the elevator, I reach in my back pocket and pull out the key that Parker told me to swipe to grant access to our floor.

It works flawlessly and then the doors are opening straight to the penthouse.

Dalia makes a face. “It just opens up straight into your place like this?”

I shrug. “I guess so.” We walk in, my steps echoing on the marble floor, and I spin around with my arms out to my sides.

“Here she is in all her beauty.”

Dalia nods, looking around. “Kind of boring.”

“And big.”

“Definitely that,” she agrees. “Does he know what color schemes are or you think he went with muted gray tones on purpose to match his personality?”

I laugh, seeing that the doormen put the boxes against the side of the wall here in the living room, and I walk over to them, running my finger over the lettering that spells out Quinten’s name.

My heart squeezes.

Dalia walks up next to me. “He’ll do fine, girl. He always does.”

I swallow around the emotion, nodding. I know he’ll be okay, but I still worry. I still wonder if I’m doing the right thing. “Yeah.”

“He’s got you. And I speak from experience when I say that’s really all any of us need.”

Chuckling, I roll my eyes and twist toward her. “You’re only buttering me up because I’m rich now.”

“Ha! You bet your sweet ass I am. Now order us some takeout, and let’s get you moved in.”

Chapter40

Cade

IHISS AS SISTER GENEVIEVE APPLIES SALVE TO MY back.

“Careful,” I snap.

“Apologies, Father.”

There isn’t anywhere in the world I want to belessthan in the mountains again. The roads are slick and icy, the weather making the trek terrible to drive, and quite honestly, being here when the conditions could turn too rough to get back to town makes me itch.

There’s nothing here except secrets and solitude, both of which I don’t want to have. Being alone gives me time to think. About Amaya. About my wavering loyalty to Him. And those secrets are better left buried where even I can’t find them.

My heart pangs, and I grind my teeth to drown it out. Thisridiculousfeeling in my chest is why I went so hard with the discipline last night, hoping the physical pain would numb the one ripping through my chest.

I told myself that I wasn’t going to think of her anymore.

That I would do what needed to be done. We said our goodbyes, so it’s time for my world to stop revolving around her like she’s my sun.I have to leave Festivalé, I tell myself again.