Redeemed (Dirty Air Series Book 4)

by Lauren Asher

  “I don’t doubt it one bit. Those kinds of genes don’t skip a generation.”

  I clasp my hands together in my lap. “What else can you share about him?”

  “Are you sure that you feel ready to hear about him? I don’t want to upset you.”

  “Yeah. I want to know about him before I head back to America.”

  Matteo’s brows raise. “You plan on going back? Why?”

  “I came here to find my dad, and well, he’s not exactly here anymore. There’s nothing here for me.”

  “But what about Santiago?”

  Shit. He’s your boyfriend to the world, Chloe. Of course you need to think about how your decisions affect him. I rush to respond. “I think we could use a break.”

  He frowns. “Because of what happened between the three of us?”

  I look away and nod. “Yes. It’s hard for me to forgive liars. Not talking to you isn’t an option for me because I want to learn about my father. But with Santiago…I’ve had plenty of bad experiences with people who manipulate the truth to last a lifetime.”

  “I can see where you’re coming from. I really can, even though I haven’t been through it myself. But you’ve been dating him for a year. That’s a long time to just get up and leave when things get hard. Are you sure you can’t sort it out?”

  It’s hard to not scoff at the idea of dating Santiago for a year. I haven’t even had a relationship with my Netflix subscription for that long.

  I choose my words wisely. “A break could give us some distance to figure things out.”

  “Distance doesn’t fix things. Talking them out does.”

  “No offense, but the only reason I’m talking to you is because I want to know about my dad. I’m not exactly happy with you either.”

  “I know. And I appreciate you wanting to spend time with me, even if it’s for your own reasons. I promise I’ll try harder to be a permanent person you can count on in your life because you are my niece. My brother would expect no less of me.”

  I swallow back the lump in my throat. “Okay.”

  “And as your uncle, I feel the need to apologize on Santiago’s behalf.”

  Oh, God. I thought he had moved past this already.

  He keeps going, ignoring the look on my face. “It’s only right to explain what happened. See, he kept his cool when I told him the shocking truth. The poor man took it like a champ, repeatedly telling me that I needed to share the truth with you. I did ask him to tell you instead of me, but now I realize that wasn’t fair to him. He was right that the news would have been better received if I told you. So, he was caught in the middle between wanting to protect you and wanting to tell you the truth. It’s not like I made his job any easier by withholding the truth from you when you came over. It was wrong of me, and I’m very sorry for doing that to you. He came over the very next morning pissed as hell and told me to tell you the truth or else he would. And his version of the truth was undoubtedly a lot worse.”

  My throat tightens, limiting my ability to speak.

  He takes a deep breath. “It wasn’t fair, and you were right. It was cruel. And Chloe, I hope you forgive me one day. I understand honesty is extremely important to you, and I truly want to make it up to you. Not only because you’re my niece, but because I do care for you. My brother would smack me if he were here right now for hurting you in the first place.”

  Unavoidable tears fill my eyes at the mention of my dad wanting to hurt someone for making me unhappy. It’s a foreign concept to me when all I’ve done is get hurt by those who were supposed to defend me.

  “You think so? That he would be angry at you?” My voice cracks.

  “Absolutely. He would’ve kicked my ass outside for making you cry. He was aggressive like that. I’m telling you—wild child in all capital letters.”

  “I wish I could’ve gotten to know him.”

  “Me too. You remind me of him in the best ways.”

  “How so?”

  “You have this kind of confidence I don’t see often. He was similar. It always drew people to him no matter if they were strangers or old friends. And I get that same feeling from you. You’re rather charming. It took you less than five minutes to get a job with me, and I never hire anyone.”

  My eyebrows raise. “Really?”

  “Of course. I always have teens wanting to make a quick buck over the summer when it’s the busy season. I always said no, but there was something in your eyes that told me you were worth the extra pay and effort.”

  What is it with this man and bringing on the waterworks? I’m like a leaky faucet around him. “Thank you.”

  “No. Thank you, Chloe. For giving me another connection to my brother again.” His eyes shine, reflecting unshed tears.

  “You have a way of making me cry, and I’m not much of a crier.” I sniffle.

  He chuckles. “You’re very brave. Not many people would have the courage to confront someone about being their long-lost parent, but you did it. And now that I’ve had time to think about it, I can say that was incredibly courageous of you.”

  “Or stupid. Depends how you look at it.”

  Matteo chuckles. “You should be proud of yourself. I’m happy you shared who you were with me because it gives me a chance to reconnect with my brother in a different way now.”

  “Dammit, Matteo. You need to stop with all the nice words.” I dab at the corner of my eyes before another tear escapes.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s annoying because I’m trying freaking hard to stay mad at you.”

  “Then I’m not the least bit sorry about that.”

  I let out a genuine laugh. “Will you tell me a story about my dad?”

  He nods. “Of course. What would you like to know?”

  “Do you think he liked John Hughes’s movies?”

  “It’s funny you say that. He always did have a thing for The Breakfast Club. Maybe it was his rebellious nature that made him resonate with the main guy.”

  I flash him a huge grin. “I love that movie too!”

  “I’m telling you—you’re more alike than you realize.”

  Matteo goes off, telling me stories about my father’s past. I memorize every single word.

  While I didn’t get exactly what I wished for, I have the opportunity to learn about my father and who he was over the years he was alive. And to me, that’s better than never having the chance to begin with.

  I leave Matteo’s house way later than expected. Silence greets me as I unlock the front door, opening it to find pure darkness.

  I miss Santiago freaking me out the moment I walk through the front door.

  I miss coming home to the smell of whatever he was cooking that day.

  I miss him.

  I miss him so damn much, I’m tempted to call him and break down.

  But what if I forgive him, only to have the same thing happen again? Everything about our relationship was fake to the public. And what if the next time he lies, it’s about cheating or something way worse? How does he expect me to believe anything he says again?

  But are you being fair? You went along with some of his lies in the first place. And he was trying to protect you in the end. I can count on two fingers how many other people have tried to do the same.

  Maybe it’s time I acted like an adult and called him.

  My stomach grumbles, forcing me to table my thoughts and head to the kitchen to attempt some kind of meal. If someone can count burnt charred remains as sustenance.

  An embroidery circle takes up a spot in the middle of the counter. I rush toward it and pick it up.

  My heart rate speeds up in my chest as I check out the most beautiful design I’ve ever seen. There’s no mistaking who made this. Santiago crafted a field of wildflowers, making up every color of the rainbow. It’s hands-down the best gift anyone has given me.

  A wobbly looking quote takes up the top of the design.

  Where most people see weeds, I only see you—
my beautiful wildflower, untamed and free.

  I flip over the embroidery circle to find a note taped on the back. His small yet elegant handwriting marks the page.

  I called you a wildflower the moment you showed up at my house with a bouquet of them. That day, I asked myself what kind of person would go picking those crazy flowers in the first place. I thought they were just inconvenient weeds, but now I have my answer after all the time we spent together.

  You might not realize it, but you’re a wildflower. You grow in the most unexpected places, no matter who tramples on you or ignores your beauty. You can grow in a field, or through a crack in the sidewalk, but the result will always be the same. No one can stop you from flourishing in a world set on ignoring you. You have a way of turning any situation, good or bad, into something magnificent.

  You taught me that life is stunning in its rawest form. That anyone can find happiness in the most unlikely places if they look hard enough. That life is about searching for the light, even if it means growing through broken places to get there.

  I don’t want to see the world through rose-colored glasses. I want to see it with a wildflower heart like yours, desperately chasing after what makes me happy, wild, and free. And most of all, I want to chase after it with you.

  I love you, Chloe Carter. No matter the time, place, or circumstance, I’ll always love you because you’re my hidden beauty in a world of weeds.

  I clutch onto the embroidery circle. Goddammit. Tears break free for the second time today, staining my cheeks.

  I’ve never read something quite like that in my life. Especially not about me.

  Definitely not about me.

  Someone who writes something like that and creates a piece of art doesn’t just love me. Santiago is in love with me, and I finally realize the difference. It’s crazy, messy, beautifully imperfect. Everything comes at a cost and falling in love isn’t exclusive to the rule. But the negatives are worth the one positive—finding someone who isn’t just my lover, but the other half of my heart.

  It doesn’t matter about Santiago’s lie at the end of the day. Of course it wasn’t right. But I’ve been looking at it wrong too. Intentions matter. I’ve been stupid to ignore that for days because of my hurt feelings.

  My whole life has been filled with people whose aims were always in the bad place. The difference with Santiago is all his decisions were made with me in mind. Even if it wasn’t the right choice for me, it was the right choice to him, and I need to understand that. And most of all, growing up in a world of uncaring people shows me that it’s not okay to punish someone for caring too much.

  I run out of the room to find my phone because I’m done holding back from him anymore. How can I when he writes me a poetic letter and makes me my own embroidered gift?

  The sound of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” playing outside has me halting at the front door.

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  No way.

  There’s just no freaking way.

  I pull at the handle, throwing the front door open.

  I cover my mouth with my palm.

  Oh yeah, there’s a fucking way.

  47

  Santiago

  Chloe stares at me, wide-eyed and unmoving as her eyes bounce between my trench coat, the stereo above my head, and my face.

  Yeah, I’m a fool in love. A big fool who can’t help recreating one of her favorite movie scenes just to get her back. The biggest idiot for searching high and low all over the internet for an eighties stereo like the film.

  Did I need to do this? Probably not. But I wasn’t taking any risks in case my artwork didn’t win her over. Chloe is worth the sacrifice to my self-esteem.

  Her feet remain planted on the front porch. I didn’t expect some grand display of affection from her, but anything is better than the silence right now. Peter Gabriel croons above my head and fills the void between us.

  I shoot her a hesitant smile. Any day now.

  She snaps out of her daze and runs full throttle at me. I barely have enough time to put the stereo down on the ground before she launches herself into my arms. I stumble before catching my balance.

  It’s bliss, having her back with me. Her arms wrap around my neck right before her lips crash against mine. Our kiss is like two cars colliding. Uncontrolled with sparks flying and the world grinding to a halt around us. I run my fingers through her hair and lock her in place, enjoying the feel of her closeness.

  God, I missed her. I missed her in my arms and the way she releases a breathy sigh when I stroke my tongue against hers.

  Everything about her calls to me.

  The wildness of her touch, both greedy and reverent.

  The way her body molds to mine in all the right places, like she was destined to be my match.

  The way she whispers my name under her breath when I run my hands down her body.

  How did I survive a week without her? Scratch that. How did I make it through most of my life not knowing she existed? I could spend forever with her, and it still wouldn’t be long enough.

  She breaks away from the kiss first and steps out of my embrace.

  I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m so sorry for hiding the truth from you. It was terrible, knowing what I did about Matteo and your dad. Keeping it a secret was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, and I’ve done a lot of difficult things in my life. But I swear, I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t know what to say, and I thought Matteo would be better at explaining everything. But then he—”

  She presses her index finger against my lips, stopping me. “I know. It’s not fair to hold it against you when you were put in an impossible situation to begin with. I realize that.”

  My body warms at her words. “I swear from here on out that I will always tell you the truth. No matter the consequence. No matter the situation. No matter how much it could hurt me or you.”

  “You promise?”

  I nod.

  “Even when I ask you if I look fat in a pair of jeans?”

  “Is that a trick question?”

  She pinches me in the ribs.

  I grin, loving the smile on her face. “I’ll tell you, especially if you look fat in your jeans. The more curves, the better.” I wiggle my brows.

  She throws herself back into my arms and wraps her arms around my neck.

  I lean back against my car, easing some of the weight off my leg. “Am I forgiven?”

  “You were forgiven the moment I read your letter on the back of your design. While your executions sucked, I realize you had good intentions, and that’s what matters most. I can’t fault you anymore for wanting to save me from a painful experience.”

  I stare at her wide-eyed in disbelief. “I promise not to lie anymore. No matter what my reasoning is, you always deserve the truth.”

  She chuckles under her breath and cradles my face. “Even when I ask what you think of my cooking?”

  “Especially when you ask about your cooking. Dying from food poisoning isn’t on my current agenda.”

  She laughs in the most beautiful way.

  “I love you, Chloe.”

  “I love you too.”

  I place a soft kiss against her forehead before taking a deep breath of her flowery scent.

  “So I’m you’re wildflower, huh?”

  My cheeks heat. I might have gone a little overboard with my writing. I’m no Robert Frost, but I can get inspired too.

  “I love when you get all shy on me. It’s cute.”

  “I’m not shy.”

  She lifts a brow. “I thought we said no more lies.”

  “Is it too late to cancel this connection?”

  She throws her head back and laughs. “I’m not a cellphone data plan. You can’t just cancel me whenever you feel like it. Plus, you can’t write a love letter like that and expect me to disappear. That’s what every girl dreams of.”

  “Did it make your closet-romantic heart happy?�
�

  “No. It made my heart whole.”

  I follow her into my house. The massive front door clicks shut behind us. Chloe turns on her heel and pushes me against the door. I barely have a moment to recover before her lips crash against mine, her tongue tracing the seam of my mouth. My body shudders as her hands latch onto my T-shirt. With a huff, she pulls away from our kiss to give herself room to pull my shirt off.

  Her eyes match a stormy ocean, endless and dark as her pupils dilate. She licks her lips, tracing the scar I love.

  I want to fuck her so badly, to erase the last week from our memories. The time we spent apart might as well have been a year based on the way my cock pulses to life in my jeans.

  My shirt falls to the ground and Chloe’s lips return to my neck. I groan as her right hand presses against my erection.

  My hand covers hers, halting the movement. “Wait.”

  “Are you really going to stop me right now?”

  “No.”

  Her lips find the sensitive spot on my neck, but I pull back, smacking my head into the door. “Yes. Wait.”

  “What’s wrong?” She pulls away and steps out of my personal circle. Her brows draw together.

  I don’t blame her for being confused. Hell, even my dick is siding with Chloe on this one.

  “I need to tell you one last thing before we move onto that part of making up.”

  “What?” She takes another step back, adding to the growing distance between us.

  “There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

  She blinks. Once. Twice. Three times.

  The silence is deafening as she says nothing.

  I stare her in the eyes despite the urge to look away. “I did something you probably won’t be happy with.”

  “Don’t leave me hanging in suspense. My heart can’t handle it.”

  “I should preface this with the fact that the only reason I did this in the first place was because I wanted to protect you.”

  “Thanks for the prologue. What is it?” Her voice comes out wooden.

  “Your mom called Noah, who called me.”

  “WHAT?!”