Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
The town was long past sleeping, the night long, even the bars locked up for the night.
Theo made a left to head for where The Sanctuary was located on the far north side of the lake.
Kane and I eased along Culberry Street, passing by the darkened windows of the trendy shops and restaurants. My attention caught for a fraction of a second on River of Ink, the tattoo shop River owned, wondering idly if he was going to mind adding another tattoo to the rest.
Another body in the ground. Another flame. Pretty soon, I’d be completely overcome.
Kane’s headlight dipped out as he made a right into the parking lot of the club, before he followed the lane that led to his house tucked about half a mile back on his property.
I increased my speed when we hit the winding road at the opposite side of town and headed up that side of the mountain.
My grip trembled on the handlebars. Body vibrating with an energy I couldn’t quite process.
Elena hung tight, though I could feel the ravaging of her heart. Her fear palpable as she put her trust in a stranger.
I kept glancing behind me, making sure no one was following, before I slowed at the nearly hidden lane that led through the woods to my cabin.
The bike jerked and bobbed as we made our way over the rugged terrain, then my heart was doing something very fucking stupid when I caught sight of my cabin tucked beneath the trees, knowing Daisy was within its walls waiting on me.
Silas pushed from the wall of the garage where he’d been standing, disbelief filling his features as he tried to process who was on the back of my bike.
A moment of confusion.
Then he came running.
Hitting the brake, I pulled to a stop, and Elena jumped off and threw herself into her brother’s arms.
Sobs ripped out of her as she sagged against him as he held her up.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he murmured, though he sent me a glare from over her shoulder.
What the fuck?
I killed the engine and swung off my bike.
His attention dipped to the blood that soaked the front of my shirt.
“Told you I was supposed to head this. That blood should be on me,” he said.
“You know we couldn’t risk you causing a scene. Had to make a call.”
“This is going to put your crew in deep shit.”
“Doubt he knows we’re involved, but we’re here for you, no matter what.”
He shifted to loop his arm around Elena’s waist. Wavering between anger and relief. “Thank you, brother.”
“Get her out of here and to safety,” was my only response.
“We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Elena peered over at me, torn between gratitude and fear before Silas turned to guide her to his bike. He kicked it over and she climbed on, and a few seconds later, his taillight disappeared into the woods.
My spirit screamed as I turned back to my house.
Throat closing off as I tramped up the steps.
I turned off the alarm, worked through the locks, then stepped through the door, reengaging everything on the other side.
I was covered in blood.
No surprise there.
And still, I was the fool who couldn’t do anything but slowly ease to my bedroom door.
My heart hammered at my ribs, fingers just trailing the wood. Wondering what would happen if I turned the knob.
What I’d feel if I gazed at her sleeping in my bed. All that hair strewn around her and peace on her face.
I got myself together before I did something utterly stupid, and I forced myself to move, ripping my shirt over my head as I hit the living room. I tossed the soiled fabric into the embers that barely glowed in the hearth.
Watched it be consumed before I moved down the hall.
Could hear the faint whine of Duke on the other side of the children’s door, letting me know he was there, but I got the sense he wasn’t going anywhere.
He had a new job to do.
With a perplexed shake of my head, I moved into the guest bathroom, locked the door behind me, and peeled off the rest of my clothes.
Then I stepped into the shower.
Closed my eyes beneath the spray and was taken back.
Back to the time when I thought I’d forever be her protector.
Back to the time before I destroyed everything.
THIRTEEN
DAISY
“I’ll go to the police.”
Daisy stood shaking in the darkened hallway, her voice trembling and her heart hammering. Flinty fear blackening the edges of her sight.
Taking a threatening step toward her, Ethan let go of a malicious chuckle. “You don’t have the nerve.”
His words might have been soft, but she felt the oppression behind them. The manipulation he’d always wielded over her. She’d just been too numb from the loss to recognize it.
“You wouldn’t go and do something so foolish, would you?” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.