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The Protector’s Daughter

Page 377

by Susie McIver

“You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Marisol?”

She smiles.

“I’m staying with Sally.”

Three people I thought Navarro might have killed.

Alive.

Together.

The call ends when a nurse orders Frank to rest.

The kitchen remains quiet for one second.

Then the oven timer sounds again.

Sean looks at me.

“Now?”

“Yes. Now.”

I take out the cinnamon rolls.

Nine people surround the island while I cover them with frosting.

Nobody waits for them to cool.

Arthur burns his mouth.

Kane tells him he deserves it.

For the first time in my life, I know what happens next.

We rebuild.

Together.

Later that afternoon, we drive to Iron Ridge.

The house is blackened and open to the sky.

Half the front wall is gone.

The porch has collapsed.

The kitchen where I made pastries three mornings ago no longer exists.

Sean stands beside me.

“We can build somewhere else.”

“No.”

“The fire damaged more than we thought.”