Chapter 22: Acts of Salvation: Chapter 21

I’m dragging my feet as I make my way to the penthouse elevator. Let’s just say apologizing isn’t my forte. Just as the doors shut, my phone begins to vibrate.

Looking down, I see I have a message from my sister Aria reminding me of our family dinner tonight. It vibrates in quick succession once more, and a message pops up letting me know Ren’s presence is being requested.

I let out a groan as I lean against the cool mirrored wall of the elevator. Ugh. Will he even want to come after what I did to him last night? The poor guy basically laid his heart out, and what did I do? Step on it—with five-inch stiletto heels.

The elevator doors open onto the penthouse floor and what stands before me sends my stomach through Olympic level somersaults. Becca, with a smug as fuck smile on her face.

She’s dressed in a pencil skirt that’s practically painted on, and a white button-up blouse that’s showing way too much cleavage to be demure. I don’t miss the fact that the first couple of buttons aren’t aligned correctly, as if she had to dress quickly.

My stomach turns into a fifty-pound bowling ball, and I’m pretty sure there’s no hiding the displeasure in my face.

“Cassie. Good afternoon.” She nods once while stepping into the elevator I’m still standing in.

Getting my ass in gear, I step into the penthouse foyer and don’t return her half-ass greeting. As soon as I hear the elevator doors close, I’m off in search of the man who she was definitely here to see.

A minute later, I find Ren situated in the leather wingback chair behind his massive mahogany desk. For such a modern apartment, William’s office is like stepping back in time. The walls are lined with custom-designed bookshelves, the detailed millwork is exquisite, and the old-fashioned ladder that glides from one end of the wall to the other leaves no room for question that this is indeed a book lovers’ home.

“Cassie.” Ren’s facial expression is detached, no emotion to be seen. “Did you come to pick up your things? Bruce is in the master bedroom, last I saw.” He returns his gaze to the folder in his hand, dismissing me from the conversation.

Well, shit. He’s really mad. Is that why he had Becca up here? Focus, Cassie. Just apologize and move on. “I’m sorry.”

Those two words have Ren looking back up at me, his eyes narrowing and brows scrunching together. “What exactly are you sorry for?”

I should’ve known better than to think this was going to be easy.

“For how I acted last night.”

“And how did you act last night?”

Jesus. He isn’t making this any easier, is he?

“Like someone who was scared shitless.” I shift on my feet awkwardly. Not knowing where to place my arms, I cross them over my chest. “Look, Ren, I’m not a normal girl who gets all starry-eyed and giggly when the guy she’s seeing mentions moving in together. I’m also not the type of girl who likes to be controlled. I’m an independent woman and any man who wants to be with me needs to realize that he can’t dictate who I can and cannot work for or where I can and cannot live.”

Ren’s face morphs from serious to amused. His lips are pursed to the side and I can tell he’s fighting a smile. There’s no hiding the playful light in his eyes.

“What else is this man of yours going to need to do?” That beautiful mouth of his splits into a wide grin that’s contagious.

“Give me some time. Time to get used to the idea of a relationship.”

Ren gets up from his chair and rounds his desk, heading straight for me. Reaching out both hands, he cups my face, tilting it up to his. “Does my little angel need anything else from her man?”

My whole body flushes at the multiple thoughts that race through my mind, all of them naughty. But what comes out of my mouth is completely unexpected for the both of us, “Keep Becca out of the apartment.”

Ren’s whole body tenses and I can see the wheels in his head turning. “You know that Becca is just my secretary, right? Did you bump into her on your way up, is that what this is about?” Ren’s hands drop from my face down to the small of my back as he pulls me into him. “She delivers files whenever I’m working from home. Seriously, there’s nothing for you to worry about there.”

Images of Becca’s inappropriately buttoned blouse come to mind, and I know that it’s not exactly proof of anything, but I can’t help but ask myself ‘what if?’

Noticing that I haven’t said a word and that my eyes have suddenly landed on every surface in the room except for him, Ren pulls me in tighter, depositing a kiss to the top of my head. “Hey, baby. It’s only you, okay? Always you.”

“Mhm,” I mumble into his chest. “While we’re at it, there’s one more request I’d like to tack on for the night.”

“Oh this is just the list for the night?” Ren laughs, his chest rising and falling beneath my hands. “Okay, let’s have it. What’s the request?”

“Dinner with my family.” I give him a sheepish smile and bat my lashes in an exaggerated manner. “You know you want to.” I poke at his side before we both burst into laughter.

“I’d actually really like that.” Ren musses my hair, before slapping my ass and walking away. “But first, how about you join me in the shower?”

A couple of hours later, after we’re both thoroughly cleaned, we find ourselves in the comfort of his blacked-out SUV.

“Do all of the men of WRATH own one of these? I could’ve sworn I saw William driving the exact same car.”

“Yes, and they all come decked out with bulletproof glass too. Never know when the crazies will come out.” Ren winks while reaching a hand out and squeezing my thigh.

“Are you calling me crazy?” I laugh, knowing full well that after last night he probably thinks I definitely have a couple of screws loose.

“I’m not the one who said it.” He shrugs his shoulders while grinning like a fool.

Smacking his shoulder, I can’t help but join in and grin myself. I could definitely get used to this.

Ren pulls into a gas station on the south side of Dallas. “Need to fill’er up. Want anything from inside?”

“Nope, I’m good thanks.” I watch him as he exits the car and makes his way into the convenience store—that’s when I notice it. The tree.

Holy shit. I haven’t been back here in ages. My mom used to wait tables at the taqueria attached to the gas station and I’d have to sit inside and wait for hours. Some days, when the store was really busy, my mom would give me a dollar for ice cream and let me sit outside under that tree.

I quickly get out of the car, needing to see if it still has all the wishes I’d carved into it. It was my very own wish tree, and whatever I carved into it had to come true.

My god… they’re all here. I run my fingers over the worn-out markings, marveling at the imagination I once possessed.

There’s the one where I asked for my parents to stop fighting. I roll my eyes. Not even God himself could make that happen, let alone a tree.

Oh my god, there’s the one where I asked for bigger boobs. My mouth curves into a wide grin. Okay, that one was really funny.

My eyes are suddenly drawn a few inches down. It’s just as old as the others, but it’s the name signed below it that sticks out… Ren.

I crouch down, needing to read the engraving.

As I begin to read, my body tingles with awareness. Not a moment later, I feel him. His hand covering mine as we trace the writing on the tree.

Turning around, I see Ren’s eyes, flickering back and forth between mine, glittering with unshed tears.

“Cassie, my little angel.” His eyes are now full of wonder and something else I can’t describe. Gratitude?

As if in a time warp, those same eyes appear before me. Only they belong to a very drunk and very young Ren, laying under this very tree.

Mom had just given me my spending money, and I’d chosen a delicious ice cream cone as my treat.

Cone in hand, I was happier than a pig in mud and on my way to the wishing tree. That’s when I spotted the handsome stranger in my spot. I must’ve been eight at the time, but even I knew what a drunk man looked like, and he was definitely drunk.

Something in his eyes told me he needed a friend, and even though I’d been taught to stay away from strangers, I thought he was worth investigating.

“Hello, mister. Are you okay?”

“Is anyone ever really okay?” The man takes a pull from a bottle nestled inside a paper bag before running a filthy hand over his face.

Even drunk and filthy I could see that he was extremely handsome. I wonder how he got like this, and if he’s going to be okay.

I plop down next to him, needing to help him if I can.

“Mom says as long as you still have breath, then you’re still okay.” I stick a finger under the stranger’s nose. “Yup. Looks like you still have breath, mister.”

The man laughs a full-bellied laugh. “Do you typically go sticking your fingers under people’s noses, little girl?”

“No. But you seemed like you needed it.” I take a lick of my ice cream before pointing to my tree. “This is my tree and it’s special. I think that’s why God brought you here—to make a wish on my special wishing tree.”

A lone tear falls down the man’s tired face and I reach up to wipe it away. “Why are you so sad, mister? Maybe the tree can make it all better.”

He chuckles, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. “If only it could.” The man brings his face back to mine before hitting me with the saddest words an eight-year-old could possibly hear. “My mother died. She was sick for a very long time.” He presses his lips together, closing his eyes once more. “And she finally chose to leave us last night.”

Overcome with emotion, I fling myself at the man, tossing my ice cream to the side and hugging him as tight as my little arms can squeeze. “She’s with God now. She isn’t sick anymore. Nobody in heaven is sick. They’re all happy and get to eat ice cream all day long.” I feel the man choke back a sob, so I know I still have more work to do. “Mom said that when our loved ones pass away, like my abuelito, they go on to heaven and become our guardian angels. That way, they never really leave us. And if we’re real quiet and hold real still, we can even feel their love.”

The man pulls me away enough so that I can see his face. “Where did you come from, little angel?”

Looking deep into his eyes, I know this to be true. “I think your guardian angel sent me.”

The man’s face contorts as if he were in physical pain and his eyes are now leaking a multitude of silent tears. Wiping at his face, the man sniffles. “How about we make that wish now?”

He takes out a pocket knife, much sharper than the pen I always carry with me to sketch.

“What’s your wish gonna be, mister?”

“You tell me, little angel.” He smiles, showing off a dimple that makes me feel warm all over.

I think real hard because it needs to be a good one. Closing my eyes, I listen like my momma taught me, and let myself feel the love. That’s it! That’s what he needs!

My eyes flash open, wanting to share the wish as soon as possible.

“May I always feel the love of my angel, carrying it forever in my heart.”

I nod once, knowing that’s exactly what he needs to wish for. “That way, you’ll never feel alone or lost, and you’ll never be this sad again.”

The man takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he nods. “That’s perfect, little angel. Fucking perfect.”

He quickly takes his pocket knife to the tree, scribing the wish onto its bark and sealing it with his name.

– Ren.

A cool breeze hits me, bringing attention to the wetness on my cheeks. I’ve been crying. And a quick glance up lets me know that Ren remembers too.

His face says it all but it’s the words that come next that confirm it, “My little angel.”

I nod, my mouth slightly ajar.

“You were sent to me, specifically for me, and I can’t see myself spending another day without you.” Grabbing my face in both of his hands, he brings us closer. “What do you say, little angel, will you marry me?”

His question hits me like a freight train. Never in a million years did I think I’d be proposed to, let alone at a gas station with a man I apparently met over a decade ago.

Flashes of my mom and dad fly before me. All of their fights, all of the times I’ve had to bail Mom out when Dad’s taken all her money. As soon as those images slow, I’m hit again with visions of Aria, crying about her asshole of a fiancé and how she’s sure he’s sleeping around.

That’s when the memory of Becca and her disheveled blouse pops up unbidden.

I can’t breathe. The world starts spinning and I’m pretty sure the wishing tree is swaying heavily. Shit, I think that’s me. I think I’m the one who’s swaying.

If it weren’t for Ren holding me up, I’m pretty sure I’d be laid out on the ground.

“I can’t,” I blurt out. “I need air.”

I don’t have time to process Ren’s facial expression. All I know is I need to get away. I need everything to just slow down and stop spinning.

Ren practically carries me back to the SUV and I’m not sure if he’s even said anything up until this point. All I know is that my heart is still pounding in my head and my eyes haven’t stopped leaking.

As soon as he’s back behind the wheel, I blurt out, “Please drop me off at Mom’s.”

Through my periphery, I see him nod before starting the ignition. From the silence in the car, I think it’s safe to say he knows I wasn’t inviting him along.

It’s really not my intention to hurt him, but I honestly can’t even deal with my own thoughts right now. Attempting to smooth things over, I open my mouth to speak, “Ren, I—”

“Don’t,” he cuts me off before I can even finish my sentence. “I know proposing at a gas station is probably not the best move, and fuck, Cass, we’re not even officially dating…” Ren runs his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. “Look, I’ll just take you to your mom’s.”

I lay my head against the coolness of the window and close my eyes. The past twenty-four hours have been overwhelmingly emotional, and the saddest part is, I’m not sure my heart is strong enough to survive.