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Travis’s brow furrowed. “You really think my dad’s still in the city?”

Max shrugged. “Better to be safe than sorry.” Yeah, he was right. If Don was still here… Travis would be in deep shit if he found out his middle son was trapped in the same city as him. He’d probably turn chasing him into some sick game to pass the last of their time, and Travis would rather not play.

Nobody said much else after that. Maya and the pink one still weren’t talking—they hadn’t this whole time—but the room quieted down for a few minutes as everyone finished eating and prepared to face the day.

Step one: military camp.

Step two: get a bigger room.

Step three: find phones.

It all sounded so easy, but something told Travis it would be the opposite.

58

Hell’s Gate

ANGELTHENE, STATE OF WITHEREDGE

Darien awoketo the pearly light of a clear dawn streaming through the windows.

He was at Hell’s Gate. The house was quiet, and he was…on the floor? How the hell had he ended up here?

Memories from the previous night slowly returned to him, and so did his emotions. He preferred being numb.

Eyes shut, he rolled onto his stomach and burrowed deeper into the pillow. He wasn’t ready to wake up yet.

Sometime later, he heard footfall descending the stairs from the floor above. Whoever it was paused when they reached the landing.

“What are you doing?”

Darien lifted his head off the pillow.

Lace stood in her pajamas by the staircase. Staring at him in utter bewilderment. When he didn’t respond, she raised her brows higher in question.

“Sleeping,” he answered. He lay his head on the pillow and shut his eyes against the daylight, sliding an arm up to block it. “What’s it look like?”

“Did she kick you out?”

“No,” he mumbled into his arm.

“Then what are you doing out here?”

Whatwashe doing out here? Being a possessive freak? Hurting his back? Sleeping poorly? All of the above. He settled with: “Guarding.”

A pause. And then: “You’re insane.”

He grunted in agreement. He really was insane. And in love. Insanely in love. With a girl who currently hated his guts. Ah, life was good. “I’m also hungry,” he said.

“Is that a hint?”

“Only if you were already planning on cooking.”

She hummed. “What do you want?”

“Whatever you’re making.”

“Beans and liver, then.”