Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Lost to the world.
Rage spiraled through my consciousness, my sister’s face so clear in my mind.
Laughing.
Always laughing.
Wanting to take on the world. Live it big and beautiful and free.
I crept forward until I was standing right over him, staring down at the pathetic fuck who had no idea justice was coming for him.
I had my knife out with the tip pressed to his throat before he even knew I was there, then his eyes were popping open to the darkness where I stood over him like a wraith.
A reaper who’d come to collect.
The dark storm of my words a fulfilled prophecy.
“Did you think I’d let you get away? Did you think I wouldn’t make you suffer for what you did? Did you think I would forget?”
Hate spun me into disorder as bile prowled up and down my throat. Seven years had passed. Seven years since the three of them had disappeared. Seven years that I’d been hunting. Seven years of this motherfucker thinking he’d gotten away.
“There is no place you could have run that I wouldn’t have found you.”
Because I’d sworn over Haddie’s grave none of them would get away with what they’d done. They would atone for their sins. And that atonement had come due.
It was past midnight the next night when I pulled my truck up to my cabin that glowed like a lantern hung in the woods. The gold haze spilling from the windows whispered of peace and sanctuary.
Funny since I’d never felt a chaos so severe than right then.
Jonah leaned against the exterior wall, pulling in a deep drag of a cigarette as he gazed at the endless sky, though he lifted a hand in hello as I approached.
I pressed the button to lift the garage door, and I eased my truck inside. I killed the engine and stepped out to Jonah coming around my truck to greet me.
“Hey, man, how’d it go?”
I’d given him the same faulty excuse that I was running a legit trip.
“Good. Wiped, but good.” Guilt nearly swallowed me, my head spinning as I attempted to keep myself together.
“All quiet around here?” I forced out, angling my head to indicate the house.
“Yup. Bedroom light went out about two hours ago. Think she’s out for the night. Of course, she insisted on feeding me every meal for the last twenty-four hours since I was the poor bastard who got assigned to keep the grizzly bears away.” He chuckled when he said it.
“Shocker,” I said, almost hearing her voice verbatim.
“She’s a sweet one,” Jonah mused.
“The best,” I said low, glancing at the interior door like I might be able to see her form through it. Like I might be able to feel her warmth radiating out. Fall into its comfort.
I looked back at him. “Thanks for hanging out.”
“Any time.” Then he hesitated, his eyes narrowed. “You sure you’re good?”
My spirit rumbled, and I managed a half-cocked grin. “Yeah. Just a long trip.”
“All right, man. Get some rest.”
I gave him a jut of my chin then closed the garage door behind him as he walked to his bike off to the side of the drive. He turned it over, the low grumble echoing through as he took off.
Only I couldn’t bring myself to go upstairs. I grabbed a bottle of Jack that I had left half drunk on one of the worktables, spun off its cap, and tipped it up so I could take a giant gulp.
I rambled back to my truck and slunk down in the driver’s seat, every few minutes guzzling at that bottle like I was going to find the answer at the bottom of it.
It burned as I gulped it down, hitting my stomach in a liquid fire that toiled and tumbled like the pits of hell.
I rocked my head back on the headrest, eyes going closed as I struggled through the emotions that gripped me.
Guilt.
Shame.
Determination.
A war of confusion that raged.
Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing the blood spilled across the floor and across my hands.
Halfway back to Moonlit Ridge, I’d stopped at a dingy motel and rented a room so I could take a shower and get a few hours’ sleep. Thinking it would be enough to wash the evidence away, only the dishonor had hunted me right back to this place.
I lifted the bottle again and swallowed a mouthful.
It left a path of fire, flames in my guts and ashes in my spirit.
I forced the jagged puffs of air through my nose as I sat there searching for everything I was missing.
Like I was going to find redemption.
Forgiveness.
Like I could ever make amends when my crew found out what I’d done behind their backs.
The lies I’d been telling.
I squeezed my eyes closed as visions flashed, but I was unable to block the horror of them out.
Running into that room that night so long ago. Blood splattered everywhere. The two people I loved most in this world mangled. Discarded like trash where they’d been left on the floor.