Page 203 of Severed Heart

She nods and nods. “Yes, yes, yes. Soldier, you’ve always had my forever, my miracle, my love, you are why I have faith.” She barely manages to get the words out before we’re kissing to seal the deal. My elation easing some of the anxiety as we spend long minutes reveling in our decision, until I give her my delayed reply.

“Then maybe you’ll be the reason I have faith too.”

“When will we get married?” she asks.

“That’s up to my forever,” I tell her honestly. “But when you decide the where and when for me to show up in a penguin suit, I’ll be there.”

“No, I am not falling forthat,” she states, “that is not a metaphor foranything.”

“Yes, it is,” I chuckle, “I promise you it is. Look it up on Google.”

“Non,” she retorts instantly.

“What is your damn issue with the internet already?”

“It has no appeal for me,” she states. “And stand by for that order, Soldier, penguin suit bullshit to me or not.” She nestles back into my arms and lifts her newly donned finger for us both to admire. Even in the dim light, it sparkles incredibly, matching the emotion in my chest.

“Mon Dieu, I am so very lucky. I love you.” She kisses my throat and my jaw before pulling me under her spell. And I dive into her kiss, filling up on it before she pulls away. “I’ve always wanted to marry arealsoldier. Now, you’ve given me every single dream I’ve ever wanted. This is the best night of my life, Tyler,” she declares, as she so often does, and I reply like I always do.

“No, it’s not. I promise you, it’s not.”

Not long after, we both doze off, and my pocket vibrates as Delphine nestles against me, clearly irritated by the disturbance. I quickly retrieve my phone from my pocket, dread filtering in when I see who’s calling. Hitting the button on the second ring, I put the phone on speaker, knowing Delphine will want to hear whatever he’s calling for. “Dom?”

“Tyler.” His voice is a mix of anguish and panic before he calls my name again. “Tyler, I fucked up. I instantly perk up at his admission, as does Delphine, who is already tense in my arms, as her head lifts, her fear-filled eyes drilling into mine. All the peace we had minutes ago feeling stripped as I prod him.

“What’s going on?” I ask, as panic for my brother quickly filters in. The few words he’s spoken already reeking of utter depletion as a short silence ensues. “Dom?”

“I need a favor,” he expels, his tone just as tortured as Delphine quickly stirs fully awake. I get to my feet, helping her out of the hammock and keeping the phone lifted between us as she follows me inside the house and into the kitchen. She stands idly by, listening intently and watching me as I start to pace. Within a minute of our exchange, she retrieves my laptop from the living room as Dom begs me to bring him and Sean home. Within seconds, I’m searching for direct flights from Paris to Charlotte, even as I try to reason with him to wait, knowing whatever pain he’s in will seem like nothing compared to what he’s in for when he gets home.

It’s during our exchange that Dom starts to talk to me in a way I’ve never heard him speak before. The changes in him becoming more evident as he speaks so adamantly, utterly solidified in his convictions. Completely unapologetic about loving Cecelia and determined to claim the love he deserves. The way he’s conversing so openly about his feelings jarring us both as Delphine and I hold one another’s stunned gazes.

“I fell in love, and it’s not a fucking crime, andyou,of all people, know it’s nondiscriminatory about the fuckingwho,” Dom states as Delphine’s eyes widen. “How is she?”

Delphine’s lips part as I remain mute.

“We’re fucking grownups, Tyler. Let’s stop with the bullshit. I don’t fault you the same way you’re not faulting me right now. How is Delphine?”

Making my question clear in my expression, Delphine nods in permission. “She just got her latest scan done, and we will get the results tomorrow or the day after, but she’s gone almost eleven months without a sip.”

“You’re fucking kidding me,” Dom rasps out as Delphine cups her mouth to hold her cries, her eyes spilling over. “I ... I don’t know what to say.”

I stare over at her, pride filling me, never happier than to give her this moment, or rather that Dom’s giving it to her, even unknowingly.

“Shekicked it, Dom.Not me,and she’s still fighting. She’s fucking happy,” I relay truthfully as Delphine continues to nod her head, the tears gliding down her cheeks so beautiful it steals my breath away. Pride for my brother’s growth multiplies, even as my trepidation for him sets in.

“Good.You both deserve it. Especially her. We all fucking do. And my bill here is settled. I’m not paying for it another goddamned day for loving her, do you hear me?”

Delphine and I stare off as Dom’s question rings out between us. “What? What aren’t you telling me?”

I hold and keep silent. The secret I’m holding for Tobias now is just as fucking painful as when I withheld it from him. Back on my laptop, I start to type in their info into the flight I’m booking, deciding I’ll never hold a secret that harbors this much fucking weight for any of them again. Not this way. It’s the gnawing in my gut that tells me I likely won’t have to because of the damage this one will cause. The truth of it being that our dynamic truly changed last year, the second Cecelia Horner drove into Triple Falls.

Briefly, I resent Cecelia for being the catalyst that very well might destroy us. Even if I do love her as a friend and would protect her at all costs. Dread settles in for the days ahead as I glance over to Delphine while addressing Dom. “There’s a direct flight leaving in a few hours.”

Silence lingers, and I can hear his stuttered breaths over the line, his emotion coming directly through. “Dom?”

“Book it,” he finally says.

I let out a loaded exhale as he cuts the call before pulling Delphine into me as silent, conflicting emotions run between the two of us. Relief being one for her because she now knows Dom’s feelings about her—of his genuine care for her. Her worry for her nephews and their future relationship undoubtedly another. Not long after, she pulls away, her expression having shifted, matching the one she wore the day she won her war. Grabbing her phone off the counter, she shoots me a look, and I dip my chin, knowing her reasoning before she speaks it. Dom had asked me to work my magic to get them out of Paris without flagging Tobias, but it’s my general who’s got this one.