Page 51

CHAPTER 51

Finn

“S kye .”

Her name. She says it softly. Like a prayer. Tearful. Soulful. Beautiful.

“Skye...” A shocked pause. “Is it really you?”

Sobbing, she buries her head on my shoulder, her body heaving.

I hold her tightly. Not knowing my next words or move.

Tears falling in spades, she looks up and cradles my head. Strokes my hair.

“Yes, Finn, it’s me.”

As much as I want to believe her, a kernel of doubt unfurls in my gut.

“How can I be sure?”

There’s only one way.

On my next heated breath, she pivots and faces the wall.

Wordlessly, she lifts up her nightshirt.

There it is. On her right cheek. The flower tattoo that’s identical to mine.

I fall to my knees and kiss it.

Then take her and make her mine once again.

***

Seated cross-legged on the floor of the narrow entryway, we clutch each other after our earth-shattering sex as if the small area rug is a raft and we’ve found each other in a shipwreck. Yes, I suspected who Scarlet really was, but still nothing prepared me for the mind-blowing moment of truth. Myriad questions bombard my mind, my lips burning to ask them.

The answers begging, I slip my fingers under her chin and tilt up her head. Her deep-set eyes still glisten with tears.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” I start off, regretful of how rough I’ve been with her.

“You didn’t. I’m the one who needs to apologize.” Her lips quiver. “Finn, can you ever forgive me?”

I bristle. Forgive her for what? For disappearing for five years? For keeping up this charade? For cheating my daughter of a mother? For making me grieve? For putting our lives in danger? All of the above plus one more question that burns on my tongue as I remember that fateful night. And relive it.

“We need to talk.” My entire body tenses at the possibility of hearing things I don’t want to hear. The truth is a powerful weapon that can make you whole or tear you apart.

With a solemn expression, she nods.

A sea of secrets lies ahead. Steeling myself, I hope for the best.