Chapter 157

• Lucia's POV
• We burst out the side door into the hacienda gardens.. rain hit hard, soaked us instant. Mud slick under feet, splashed knees. Sofia tripped bad on a root.. ankle twist, cry sharp. I scooped her up quick piggyback, her small arms around my neck tight. Sister bond deepened right there.. breathless Elena stories spilled as we ran. “Mom braided my hair once… said yours was mess always,” Sofia panted laugh-cry. Mud caked us. Love.
• Ryan limped ahead, fever fire but pushing. “Gazebo.. cover!” Lightning cracked sky. Thunder boom.