Page 31

(Now)

N ana yawned, her eyes no longer as clear as when I’d begun telling her about our case in Port Hope.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No. It’s a wonderful story. How does it end?”

The sun had risen, and the morning bustle of hospital rounds began. Soon, a nurse would interrupt us to take Nana’s vitals, and Dad would show up. I needed to get going if I wanted to avoid conflict. My father wasn’t happy—he never was—but especially since my recent announcement.

Tallus had long ago fallen asleep in the cozier chair in the corner. I would need to wake him soon anyhow, or he would be late for work. He was already riding a fine line with his boss, and although the business was doing better, I still couldn’t afford for him to quit his job.

I checked the time. It was shortly past seven. I had to wrap this up.

The case Tallus and I had finished five weeks ago was one for the record book, and it had enraptured Nana.

“By the time they brought the twins in, the detectives had interviewed the other teens involved in the murder club. Chett admitted that Weston had come to him with suspicions about their teacher and concerns about certain aspects of the club and what they were doing.

“Atlas claimed Loyal had always been sadistic and unhinged, so when we started poking around, asking questions, he thought it entirely possible Loyal had done something to Weston, although he didn’t know specifics.

“And Duke conceded to helping Loyal rig a tree to land on the Jeep. He claimed Loyal was concerned we were snooping around too much, trying to pin a murder on them, and we needed to be stopped. Duke said it was meant to scare us.

“Londyn caved in her interview, and when the police offered her immunity for the whole truth, she spilled the beans about everything. Her father. Her brother. Her involvement in the murder of her mother. Loyal was pissed and said his sister was always weak.

“It turns out Hugh Abercrombie orchestrated Weston’s murder after learning the teen had grown suspicious. The town drunk making raving claims was one thing, but Weston was a levelheaded, university-bound student who the police might not ignore. He encouraged his son to make his first solo kill. He’d been grooming his children for years, preparing them for this moment. What they didn’t expect was Weston to survive and Delaney to claim it was anything but an accident. We became a thorn in his side.”

A nurse came into the room with a cheery, “Good morning, Hazel. How are you feeling?”

“Oh, I’m just lovely, dear. Have you met my grandson?”

“I have.” She winked at me, and I encouraged Echo to scoot out of the way so the nurse could perform her morning checks.

“Today is the day, Hazel. Are you excited?” the nurse asked Nana.

“Oh yes. I am. What day is that, dear?”

“If the doctor gives you the green light, you get to go to your new home.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. I’ve been missing my shows.”

“Well, I have a good feeling you’ll be out of here in time to catch the afternoon soaps.”

Tallus stirred and stretched, blinking at the commotion in the room. “Is it morning?”

“Yes.”

“Damn. I fell asleep.”

“You needed it. You’ve been running yourself into the ground.”

He got to his feet and pecked a kiss on my waiting lips. “Worth it.”

We went into the hallway to give Nana privacy since the nurse would need to assist her with her toileting.

“We should call the home so they know to expect her today,” I said.

“Her stuff is at our place. Birdie packed everything, and Costa went with me to pick it up after work last night.”

“Thank you. Was Dad there?”

“Yes, but he didn’t say anything.”

“Good.”

Echo stuck close to my side, tongue lolling as she stared up at me with happy dog eyes. She wore her service-dog-in-training vest proudly. We’d been going to regular classes, and the instructor was amazed at her progress.

Since I suffered from PTSD and a slew of other debilitating mental health struggles, I qualified for an emotional support animal, and although I didn’t recognize my need for such things, Tallus had seen right away what a perfect match Echo and I would make.

Tallus contacted Nicholas McConaughy after we closed the case in Port Hope, and Echo came home with us that very day. We started service dog training classes immediately, bonding more than I ever expected.

Fucking Tallus was right. I loved the stupid dog, and for some fucked up reason, she loved me too.

Delaney had rewarded us with an astronomical amount of money for not only believing her but for solving her son’s murder. She said goodbye to Weston the day Loyal was officially charged.

Back home, Tallus suggested using the money to rent a bigger and better office space. When I questioned where I would live, he’d suggested we find an apartment and move in together. “We don’t need two places. Do we?”

Never in my life had I considered a live-in boyfriend, but when all I could do was stare, flabbergasted, he’d asked, “Do you love me, Guns?”

“More than life,” I’d said.

So we rented a bigger apartment and found a decent office in a nicer neighborhood.

When Nana had fallen ill two weeks ago, and the bitter feud between my dad and I got worse and worse by the day, Tallus had made one more suggestion.

I never thought it would happen since she was in her nineties, but her pneumonia was gone. Long before her dementia stole her mind, Nana had signed papers giving me power of attorney, not my father.

Until now, I’d had no means of caring for Nana since money was tight, and the business had been failing. She’d been stuck in my childhood home with my horrific father, who was verbally and mentally abusive to his aging mother. He might not lay a hand on her like he did me, but I knew from Birdie how unhappy Nana was.

With Delaney’s gift and Tallus and I sharing an apartment and bills, things had changed. We’d scored a handful of decent paying jobs in the past few weeks, and since Tallus had finally finished his PI training, we’d become a solid team. Baby steps forward. He’d even earned a spot on the new sign.

With life settling down and finances less fraught, I’d done some research and found a quiet nursing home where Nana could spend her final days in peace. I could worry less and visit more.

The nurse exited the room with a smile. “We’ll need the doctor to sign off, but she’ll be going home today.”

I thanked the nurse as she moved off to her next patient.

Tallus took my hand and weaved our fingers together. “So, boyfriend, wanna buy me a latte before work?”

“I do… boyfriend. Wanna kiss me first?”

“I do.” He went up on his toes and joined our mouths. I wasn’t sure there would be a day when kissing Tallus wouldn’t set off fireworks in my core. With Tallus, I had more than I ever expected.

Love filled my chest.

Fear, joy, and triumph.

It was crippling at times, but it also sent me soaring.

Him and I.

Together.

***

Join Tallus and Diem in A Breath of Life (Shadowy Solutions #4)