Chapter 10
Garrett’s mother was not revealed.
No violence erupted.
No one explained who controlled the convoy.
The night remained unresolved outside the grand cathedral on Fifth Avenue, with rain pouring over the stone steps, wedding guests frozen beneath the awning, a fallen ring gleaming on the pavement, and black SUVs holding the street in a silent line of headlights.
Garrett Hail stood in his soaked tuxedo, bow tie loosened, white boutonniere crushed by rain, one arm around Mave Whitlock and the other shielding Posie from the glare.
Mave clutched Posie tightly, her pale blush-pink dress soaked through, her long dark-blonde hair plastered to her cheeks. Fear still lived in her eyes, but so did something more dangerous now.
Hope.
Posie pressed herself between them, one tiny hand still curled around Garrett’s finger, her pale gray eyes wet and frightened but fixed on him.
Coraline remained near the cathedral entrance in her ruined white gown, diamonds bright against the storm, watching with a faint, knowing smile that made every word Mave had spoken feel real.
Wesley stepped toward the street, body calm, eyes alert, placing himself between the family and the convoy.
Garrett looked once at the ring lying in the rain.
Then he looked at Coraline.
“The wedding is over.”
She said nothing.
He turned to Mave.
For the first time, he spoke to her like no one else existed.
“I don’t know everything yet.”
Mave’s lips trembled.
“No. You don’t.”
“But I know this.”
He looked down at Posie.
Then back at Mave.
“You came back alive. She has my eyes. And someone made you afraid of my name.”
The headlights brightened.
Mave pulled him closer.
Garrett tightened his hold around them both.
Across the rain-slick street, the open SUV waited.
No face appeared.
No answer came.
May you like
But Garrett stared into the darkness with the cold certainty of a man who had finally found the family stolen from him.
And this time, he did not let go.
