“Long after she was gone, after the sun had risen and the towering pines had spread its beams into soft fans of light, Cruz stayed with her. Taryn had protected him, as she’d promised. Now it was his turn. As he knelt beside her on the trail, Cruz told his adviser everything he’d kept secret from her. He thanked her for helping him. For guiding him. For believing in him. And then, when there was nothing more to say, Cruz wrapped his hands around hers. He kept them warm for as long as he could.”
