Page 85 of Luck of the Devil

“One way or the other.” Malcolm’s jaw was as hard as granite, and the tone of his voice matched.

If my grandparents and aunt caught the unspoken promise of violence in his tone, they didn’t let on.

I stood and started to back up toward the door when my grandmother pointed to me and called out, “You stop right there.”

I froze, taken back by her strict tone, but then she hurried around the table, her hobble even more pronounced by her pace. When she reached me, she threw her arms around me. “If you think you’re gettin’ out of here without a hug, then you’ve got another think comin’.”

I wasn’t a hugger, maybe because hugs hadn’t been a ritual in our nuclear family. Usually, they made me feel awkward, but this one felt like coming home. The hunger for a family who actually wanted to hold me nearly brought me to my knees. I hugged her back, holding on tighter than I’d intended. “Thank you for everything.”

“Girl, I’d give you the moon and more, you only have to ask,” she said, her voice thick with twenty years of regret. “We should have fought harder to reach you. We failed you when you needed us most.” She held on tighter, as if making up for every lost embrace.

When she let me go, she turned to Malcolm and hugged him next. “Thank you for bringing her here.”

He went rigid, then, when she didn’t let go, his body softened a bit, finally accepting he wasn’t getting out of it. “I didn’t bring her here,” he finally said, his voice sounding hoarse. “She brought me.”

“I don’t care who brought who,” she said with a chuckle, then dropped her arms and took a step back. She lifted a hand and cupped his cheek, staring intently into his eyes, scanning his soul. “You’re a good man, James Malcolm, and you’re always welcome in our home.”

They were just words, because obviously they didn’t know him, not like the rest of the world did. But the way his throat worked like he was trying to swallow something too big, it was like watching someone hear that they were an elephant after being told they were a giraffe their entire life.

I thought about how he’d said he’d give anything to have grandparents like mine, because his hadn’t given a crap about him. Standing there, watching this hardened man who’d killed without hesitation melt under my grandmother’s fierce affection, I understood something fundamental: we were both orphans. The difference was I’d found my way home, and he was still learning what home could feel like.

My grandfather was behind her, and he hugged me even tighter, as though he was afraid to let me go.

“I’ll come back,” I whispered huskily into his ear.

“Promise?” he asked, his voice cracking.

“Promise.”

He gave me a kiss on the cheek, then released me. And when he moved aside, Aunt Hannah was standing in front of me, her face tear-streaked and red.

She clasped her hands in front of her, twisting them nervously. “I understand if you never forgive me.”

I shook my head. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

“If I’d told Mom and Dad?—”

“It wouldn’t have changed a thing,” I said, as certain of that as I was that the sun would rise tomorrow. “Mom would have still kept you away.”

“But you?—”

I shook my head again. “No regrets, Aunt Hannah. We found each other again, and I think that’s the best possible outcome.”

Her eyes darkened. “Other than making your father pay for killing her.”

“Right now, we have no proof that he did,” I said. “But James and I will do our damnedest to find it.” I shot him a quick glance. The dark glint in his eyes confirmed he was still on board, then I turned back to her. “And we’re a damn good team. If anyone can find proof, it’s the two of us.”

“Is James a detective too?” she asked, giving him her full attention. “I never asked what you do.”

“I’m a tavern owner,” he said, looking more than a little dangerous, but it was clear no one in this room had anything to fear. “I’m good at unburdening people of their troubles, and secrets are a part of that.”

Little did she know that he didn’t do it by plying them with alcohol, but I saw no need to fill her in.

“I’m glad Harper has you,” she said, giving him a quick hug. When she pulled away, she looked him in the eye. “You watch over our girl. I’m sure she’s good at takin’ care of herself, but we didn’t just get her back to lose her again.”

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” he said, shocking me with the sincerity of his tone. “I promise.”

Chapter 23