Page 137 of To the Chase

Right at the top was a new one from Maddie Kleinsmith. My little sister.

Holy shit.

A warm hand wrapped around mine, then Sal leaned into me, peering at my face. “You’re tense.”

Swallowing, I nodded. “Maddie emailed me.”

He paused. “Your sister?”

“Yeah,” I rasped, my eyes darting over the first words from my sister in more than a decade. “She just graduated, and she wondered if I ever—”

A sob lodged in my throat, too big to move past. Salvatore cupped my cheek, turning my face toward him. His thumb swept along my cheek before he dipped down to touch his lips to mine.

I offered him my phone, and his brow furrowed as he read the rest of the email. When he got to the bottom, he looked up, a spark of moonlight shining in the depths of his dark gaze.

“She wonders if you ever think about her, because she thinks about you often and hopes you’re okay.” He put my phone down and curled his fingers around the side of my neck. “She would like to see you, Beatrice.”

I nodded, my nose twitching and eyes burning. “She’s eighteen.”

“She can make her own decisions now, and she sought you out.” His eyes locked on mine for a long moment. “We’ll go back. As soon as we land, I’ll make arrangements so—”

“No, baby.” I slid my nose along his, my eyes fluttering closed. “I love you so much for wanting to give that to me, but no. You are important to me, and I want this time with you. It’s enough to know she wants to see me. When we get back—”

“It will happen.” He kissed me again, so soft it took my breath away. “I love you too, and I would give you anything. Don’t you know that?”

“I do.” I almost laughed at the colossal understatement that was.

Even when I hadn’t been his, he had handed me the world.

Now that I belonged to him just as much as he belonged to me? Well, the world had only been his starting point. He’d given me the entire universe—a family, security, passion,him. I had never questioned his devotion to me, and I was certain I never would.

Curling into his side, I let the dark sky and quiet hum of the plane hold us. They called this the loneliest flight in the world, but I had never felt less alone.

I had Salvatore.I had the kids—ourkids.I had my little black house, my crazy dog, and wonderful, beautiful friends.

And maybe, just maybe, I’d have my sister too.

This wasn’t the life I’d planned. It wasn’t what I’d thought I’d wanted.

But it was mine. I chose this.

I chosethem.

Mystrange, unusual,perfectlife.