the dark. Around the building and into the surrounding forest. I cut through the trees until I arrived at the village nearby.
Moving to the nearest car, I smashed the window and opened the door. Once it was hotwired, I pulled out onto the road. I hit the lights in case anyone saw me. And the closer I got to the chapel Luis told me to meet him at, my heart fucking pounded.
The sky was starting to lighten. Dawn would break in a couple of hours. That was enough time. The minute I saw the small chapel, nothing else around for miles, I pulled the car to a stop around back. I stared at the old bricks that looked like they’d fall if touched. The stained-glass windows barely gripped their rotting wooden frames.
Inside, I saw candles. I ran my hands down my face and got the fuck out the car. Moving to the small blue side door Luis had told me enter from, I knocked twice. It took less than ten seconds for it to open. I ducked inside and looked around. The room was small, wooden pews occupying most of the stone floor. A large crucifix hung on the main wall. Candles were lit on their stands—the only light in the entire place.
“She okay?” I asked, my voice echoing round the old room.
Luis smiled. “More than.” My pulse slammed in my neck. Luis sighed, smile fading. “I never thought we’d get here, Tanner. I never thought this day would come.”
“I never gave up hope.”
“Nor did she.”
A young guy came through a door to the side of the chapel. I went to draw my gun, but Luis put his hand over mine and said, “He’s my trainee priest. He’s safe.”
Then Luis looked behind me, and I fucking froze. I knew Adelita was there. I could fucking sense her. Luis smiled at her. We were in front of the altar. The priest-in-training moved to the piano. He started to play some song I couldn’t name.
Then I heard Lita walking toward me. I heard her feet padding on the stone floor . . . getting closer and closer. My head spun. My heart beat fast. We were here. We were fucking here. After years . . . we were here.
I smelled her rose scent behind me and closed my eyes. I thought back to meeting her that day in Mexico. Of how she stood up to me when I looked down on her. When she broke through my fucking defenses . . . when she came to me when my old man had hit me. And how she made me lose the hate that ran as thick as tar in my veins. She made me change . . . she made me love her.
And by some fucking miracle, she loved me too.
Seconds later, she was beside me. I could feel her warmth to my right. I breathed a deep breath . . . then opened my eyes. My head turned straight to her, like she was a magnet I couldn’t help but be drawn to. Her head was bowed, her dark hair covering her face. But I saw her dress. A purple silk dress. I fucking loved her in purple. Always had. The light was low, the candles not giving off much light. But I tensed when I saw the bruises on her bare arms . . . when I saw dried blood on her dress.
Adelita lifted her head and showed her face. I almost lost my shit when I saw her black and swollen eyes. When I saw her cheeks were scratched. Her lips had been split.
“Lita . . .” I whispered and moved my finger softly down her injured face. Adelita’s eyes filled with tears. She caught my hand, then did the same to me.
“They beat you too . . .” she whispered.
I fought the lump in my throat. “I thought you were dead.”
Adelita’s lip trembled. “No . . .” She smiled. “It seems like God wanted us together after all, Tanner Ayers. It seems we were destined to be.”
“I love you,” I rasped and cupped her face, careful not to hurt her.
“Ti amo, mi amor.”
As I stared at her, it was like I’d never seen her before. I’d thought her dead. I’d believed she was gone. But she was here, a fucking miracle. She was beside me . . . telling my unworthy ass that she loved me.