Disappointment washes over me, heavy and dark.

I hadn’t realized how much I’d been hoping that Riona would stay. After everything we’ve been through together. Everything we’ve learned about each other . . . I thought she had bonded to me, like I bonded to her.

But I was wrong.

She’s anxious to get back home. The Djinn is gone, and Josh Hale as well. Nobody is out to get her anymore. So she doesn’t need me. I did my job a little too well.

“I’m sorry,” Riona says, softly.

She doesn’t ask me to come back to Chicago with her again. She understands what I owe my family, after leaving all that time.

Still, neither of us seems very happy in this moment. We’re determined, but not content in our choice.

We ride back the rest of the way to the house in silence.

* * *

23

Riona

Bo comes back to the house at about ten in the morning, looking exhausted, but happy.

“Shelby and the baby are fine,” she says. “They’re naming her Frances.”

“Frances?” Raylan says, like it’s a foreign word.

“I know,” Bo says, shrugging. “But they seem really excited about it, so don’t say anything.”

All of a sudden I feel like an intruder here. I’m sure Raylan wants to go to the hospital to see his new niece. I don’t think I should be a part of that. The Boones should be able to enjoy all this together, without me in the mix.

Speaking quietly to Raylan, I say, “I’m gonna drive back home today.”

“By yourself?” he says. “I’ll drive you.”

“No,” I shake my head, “It’s too far. And you’ll have to fly back again. Stay here with your family. Go see your niece.”

Raylan doesn’t look happy, but he doesn’t argue with me.

I don’t have much to pack. I brought nothing with me, and I’ve mostly been wearing Bo’s clothes.

I do plan to take back the cowboy boots Raylan bought me at the outlet store. I know I won’t have anywhere to wear them in Chicago, but I feel irrationally attached to them. They’re damned comfortable, if nothing else.

I offer to reimburse Bo for the dress Raylan and I ruined, but she just snorts and shakes her head. “You were doing me a favor ripping that up. Aunt Kel is always trying to get me to dress more feminine. I wish she’d save her money, or get me something I actually like.”

“Like a grenade launcher?” Raylan interjects.

“Yeah,” Bo grins. “That would be much better.”

Bo heads over to Grady and Shelby’s house so she can help Celia get the boys dressed to go visit their baby sister.

Raylan feeds and waters the horses, while I get ready to leave.

We meet in the yard—Raylan looking tired and dusty, me gripping the keys to the Escalade in my hand.

“You sure you want to drive back alone?” he asks me.