Page 79 of Deviant Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 4)

It was a shitshow. It still is, with Dad refusing to have anything to do with Cruz or Pops. I understand why, fuck do I.

But unlike him, I’ve also made the effort to talk to Cruz about it. And I mean really talk. Hearing his reasons for it all from his own mouth helped me to see things a little differently.

I’m not sure I’ll ever truly forgive him for it. But I understand, and I refuse to lose another family member I actually like because of bad judgement and dodgy morals.

Cruz lets out a sigh. “How are they? Looking forward to next week?”

I smile, thinking about how happy Dad and Piper are.

“Yeah, they’re buzzing. It’s pretty cute.”

“Don’t let D hear you call him that.”

I laugh, but it’s filled with sadness.

“He’s different. Happy. I hope you get to see it one day.”

Cruz keeps his face impassive, but I see the pain in his eyes. Eyes that are so similar to Dad’s.

“Yeah, maybe. Gotta admit, kinda wish I could see him saying ‘I do’. Never thought it would happen.”

“You and me both. I’ll send you some pictures though, promise.”

“Damn right you will. I wanna see my beautiful niece in a dress for once.”

“Ugh, don’t you start,” I complain.

“And don’t think I haven’t noticed these,” he says, pointing to my nails.

“It’s for Piper,” I argue, dropping my hands to my lap.

She never told me that she didn’t want me to have black nails for the wedding, but I saw her eyes every time she looked at them, so yesterday, I did something very, very out of character. When the woman in the spa asked what colour I wanted, I pointed to a very pale pink and swallowed nervously.

“It’s cute. I like it.”

“It’s… yeah. It’s probably not going to stick,” I say.

“I’ve got something else,” he admits, pulling an envelope from his pocket. “Could you… could you give this to your dad for me, maybe?”

“You know you should just give it to him yourself,” I point out. “It might mean more if you made the effort.”

“I know, but I don’t think he needs to bust his knuckles on my face days before he ties the knot to the woman who’s owned his heart all his damn life.”

“Careful, Cruz. That almost sounds romantic.”

He snorts a laugh.

“I just want him… them… to be happy. You know that.”

“I do. But I don’t think it would hurt telling them yourself.”

“I have. It’s just… in there.”

I take the ivory envelope from him and slide it into my handbag beside me.

“Can you give it to him the night before?”

“Whatever you want,” I agree, my eyes widening in delight when Lacey makes her way over with a trayful of goodness.