A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"I told you before, there's no such thing as a hundred percent guarantee. But I'll

do my best. Things won't get any worse than they are now."

She took a thoughtful bite of her cheesecake, her gaze distant.

Valerian nodded, but he still looked like he had something on his mind.

Calliope glanced up at him. "If you've got something to say, just say it. If you're upset with me, I'd rather you be upfront. It's not like you all haven't complained before."

She was the picture of calm.

Valerian felt a little uneasy. But he couldn't help himself. "Callie, are you really that close to those brothers of yours?"

He kept thinking about what Lance had said earlier. Were those so-called adopted brothers of hers really that amazing? Did she actually like them that much? They weren't even her real brothers, so why did she care about them so much? Shouldn't she care more about her actual family?

few times before, but when he

Quentin Sutton, Norton Shepherd, or Julius Quillen, every lead went nowhere. They

always known she had these "brothers," but he'd never given it

though, it bothered him more

Quentin and the others?" Calliope nodded, completely serious. "Of course I'm close to them. They spoil me rotten. How could I

Valerian and Horatio like it was the most

on how she'd sometimes neglected her "honorary"

treated her best. Christmas was coming up, they would be back soon, and she planned to spend as much time with them

were the ones who

year, she wanted to surprise them

as she considered what

careful," Valerian said, a hint of concern in his voice. "People talk, you know, and you could get hurt

annoyed. "Or is it Lisette? She does

You don't need to get so defensive,"