Page 74

RACHELLE

M y stepfather is plotting, but I’m happy to help this time. It’s been several weeks since the Kings Society Council chose to give me back my life, and today is Elijah’s birthday. We have plenty to celebrate. We’re more than due for good things to happen.

Gazing at the mirror as I fix my hair, I grin. It sits beyond my shoulders now, curling more naturally too. I feel more myself, especially now that I have my name back. Well, with one very big difference.

Jared got his way, and my name is now Rachelle Denton. May as well give my husband a few wins, shouldn’t I?

“You’re procrastinating, aren’t you?” Ignacio asks, walking into the room to wrap his arms around my waist. “Mmm you look and smell amazing.”

His nose buries itself in my throat and he inhales deeply, making me shiver with a smile.

“What if she’s mad?” I ask tensely.

Emil is flying my mom to Santa Barbara instead of Portland today to surprise her. He told her that he missed her and wanted to have some time before life intruded.

While that may be true, I have no intention of stepping foot in Portland again. That’s not my home.

“Julia would never be mad that you’re alive,” Nacio breathes, wide eyed. “Why would you think that?”

“Mom was a mess after my father died, and then I essentially disappeared from her life the way he did. Alive one day, gone the next,” I explain. “Emil said she wasn’t doing well. What if she freaks out when she finds out and is upset?”

“Upset maybe, but she’s a smart woman, Rachelle. If the only way for you to be alive was to fake your death, she’ll understand,” Nacio says. “Even if it meant that she couldn’t know. It’s going to be fine. Now, turn around. Let me look at you.”

As he steps away, I make a face because I know that he’s trying to change the subject. My anxiety is high, and I can feel the tremble in my fingertips. Liliana had to do my makeup because I kept smearing it.

Turning to face him, the blue maxi dress I’m wearing moves with me.

It has a high neck but is sleeveless with pockets, and the hem flirts with my ankles as I walk.

My arms no longer have any signs of the scratches made from the barbed wire when I was kidnapped, and I’m grateful not to have anymore scars. Even my leg is better now.

I have Elijah’s present hidden in one of the pockets, even though my mind is racing in different directions, I’m excited to give it to him.

I’m wearing the ring Jared gave me that never comes off and a pair of dangling earrings that brush my neck.

Sandals are waiting for me to slip on by the door and then I’ll be ready to go.

“You look gorgeous. Elijah loves this color on you,” he says.

“Why do you think I’m wearing it?” I tease him.

“You’re taming the four beasts with but a smile and some sass, querida ,” he says with a chuckle.

It doesn’t escape me that Nacio is including himself with the guys. Every day, the sexual tension builds between them, threatening to bubble over. Kisses and gropes won’t be enough soon. I can’t wait to see it explode.

“Someone has to,” Liliana says, popping her head in.

“ Hola, tesoro ,” Nacio says with a grin.

She’s wearing a shorter dress that’s black and fuschia and almost appears painted onto her skin.

There’s a jacket effortlessly thrown over her outfit because there’s a cold front coming through today.

I was a little disappointed that it wouldn’t be warmer, but we’re going to be under a tent outside.

Calvin is in charge of everything for our little family party, and he reassured us that there would be warmers underneath the tent. He made all the food as well, and told me that it’ll be tacos. He also said that he used Liliana’s recipes.

Poor Calvin, I feel bad that I went through a phase where I’d only eat if Liliana made it. My body just refused to be hungry otherwise. It’s the damndest thing.

“It’s time, Rachelle,” Liliana says. “Mr. Emil wants everyone waiting in the tent when Julia drives up.”

“Fuck,” I whisper. “Okay. I can do this, I think.”

“You told a killer that he had a tiny dick, baby,” Lili reminds me as Nacio smirks. “You can do fucking anything.”

With that very loud praise, I put on my shoes and we walk downstairs and out the back door together. Nacio drops my jean jacket over my shoulders that I forgot, then holds me close as we move toward the gorgeous white tent set up that’s overlooking the cliff side of where we live.

It’s beautiful, and there are fairy lights hung up all along the back yard. Elijah said that he just wanted us for his birthday. There’s music already playing under the tent, and the guys are talking as they have a beer together.

This is everything that our lives are meant to have. Shared milestones, enjoying each other’s company. The anxiety begins to leach away as I take a cleansing breath. Whatever will be, will be. I can’t change any of it.

I’d love to say that I’m seeing a therapist and that’s where my lighter thoughts are coming into play, but it’s not.

My medication is working really well, and I’m doing the rest of the heavy lifting through journaling.

The dark voices that used to drape across me like a second skin aren’t as long, and when they speak, I write them down and then process their words.

They’re less scary this way somehow than allowing them to fester and eat at me. No one thinks I’m broken or odd for still having voices occasionally, and Liliana and the guys say that everyone has an inner voice of some kind that tears them down. Mine are just louder than others.

“Happy birthday,” I tell Elijah with a grin as I wrap my arms around him. His hug feels like home and safety as he holds me, his lips finding mine to properly kiss me.

“Thank you,” he says, smiling. “How does it feel to be back from the dead?”

“Surreal,” I admit. Theo had to do some hacking into the computer files at the hospital to state that I had survived the “prank” that led to me being admitted, and then removed any signs that I was dead on the many different places that it is submitted.

There’s a lot of paperwork when a person dies that has to be undone, just like the way that Rachel needs to be erased. Everything finally fell into place this morning, so I’m reeling with the fact that it’s done.

I have my life back. Emil planned Mom’s trip around this, hoping that the last pieces would fall into place by today. While it’s down to the wire, it’s perfect timing.

“Flex your wings, baby. You’ll get used to it,” Elijah says, winking. “No matter who you are, I love all of your pieces.”

“I love you too,” I breathe.

His eyes widen at my words, and I swear he seems to grow three feet taller.

“Best birthday ever,” he murmurs as I grin up at him.

“I hear the car coming up the driveway,” Nacio says, glancing over his shoulder.

Taking a cleansing breath, I turn toward the entrance of the tent.

Conversations break out around me in an attempt to seem normal.

They’re all well versed in pretending, and they do it for me now because silence will just make my anxiety worse.

It feels like a live wire, lighting my veins, and sprouting with ideas of so many different ways this could go in my mind.

Even over the music, I can hear Mom’s voice as she walks with Emil, and I wrap my arms around my body as tears start to well up in my eyes. God, I’ve missed her so much. Sometimes a girl just needs her mom.

“This view is beautiful, Emil,” Mom says as she walks. “Where are you taking me, exactly? I’m not really dressed to see people.”

“ Mi amor, these people aren’t going to care that you just spent hours on a plane,” Emil says. “Besides, I don’t know how you do it, but you look stunning.”

“I don’t know that you’re a good authority for this,” she says. “You always say I look good.”

“And every time it’s true,” Emil says smoothly. “I’m glad you’re back with me. I missed you.”

“I know. I missed you too. Being in the US reminds me of Rachelle…” Mom says, trailing off.

“That’s actually why we’re here,” Emil says. “You trust me, right?”

My heart squeezes so hard at his words, I gasp in pain, and Jared pulls me into his arms immediately. God, hearing them talk together is hard. Knowing they haven’t been able to see each other because everything reminds Mom of me is even worse.

“Of course I trust you, Emil,” Mom says. “What’s going on?”

I’m a fucking mess. Tears run down my cheeks as I cling to Jared, and I’m grateful that my makeup is waterproof.

“Hold on, wife,” he whispers into my hair. “It’s almost time. Just a little longer. You’re doing so well.”

I don’t feel like I am. It feels as if I’m cracking along the seams. This is the biggest secret I’ve ever kept from my mother, even if I didn’t mean to keep it for so long.

“Take a deep breath and walk into the tent, mi amor,” Emil says. “I can’t tell you anything else. Just trust me. Someone is waiting for you.”

“I…” Mom huffs in irritation. “I don’t like when you do things like this, Emil.”

I doubt my stepfather has ever done anything like this before, regardless of their history.

“I know,” he says. “It doesn’t keep me from doing this anyway.”

Liliana and Ignacio are the first people Mom sees as she tentatively walks in.

“Hi, Julia,” Nacio says with a grin. I can barely see them from where I’m standing, but I can see enough. “Welcome back.”

“How are you here?” Mom breathes, almost throwing herself at him. The music is nonexistent now. Theo must have turned it all the way down.

“The charges were thrown out for not having enough evidence,” he says. It’s a lie, but now that I’m alive, the charges have actually been thrown out and his record is scrubbed clean.

It’s strangely as if none of it ever happened, though the marks are tangible evidence on our hearts and souls.

“Emil didn’t tell me,” Mom laments, squeezing Nacio tighter.

“There were some things we needed to tie up before he could,” he explains. “Everything is settled now.”