Page 54 of Dismantle & Prevail

“When are we leaving?” Taylor asks, her fingers playing with the blanket in her lap.

“Whenever you’re ready, Hellhound.”

She nods and briefly turns her attention to the window, momentarily lost in thought.

We sit in silence for a moment before she rises from the bed, her long graphic t-shirt covering those damn biker shorts she loves to wear. Her long, tattooed legs eat the distance between us as she moves to stand at the window next to me. Together we watch as a bird flies by and lands on the snow covered bird bath.

Taking a deep breath, I revel in the fact that this beautiful girl is trusting me enough to take her away on her darkest day.

Out of nowhere, I’m knocked sideways, my head snapping to look down at a smiling Taylor.

“Get out, Ace. I need to get dressed.”

Backing away, I make it obvious as my eyes track down her body.

Damn, she’s stunning. This girl could wear a paper sack and I’d think she was the most sensational woman on the planet.

“Out Ace.” Her cheeks heat and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face.

Throwing my hands up in surrender, I turn and head out of the room, but I stop just shy of the door and glance over my shoulder.

Taylor stands there, her arms crossed over her chest, shaking her head at me as if she was waiting for me to do something stupid.

Spinning on my heel, I sprint out of her room and happiness fills me as I hear her laughter echoing down the hallway.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Taylor

Thewindwhipsthroughmy hair as Ari and I stand at the wooden gate, staring down at the snow filled canyon.

Waking up this morning, I was already feeling the weight of the day.

Especially after that damn nightmare.

The only positive was Ari being there to wake me up, but that peace only lasted for a second before I was brought back to the present.

Today is the day my life changed forever. One I should be grateful for but somehow find myself dreading.

To me, today is the day that I found a piece of solid ground after years of living on tiny pebbles, jumping from one unstable rock to the next. It's the day that reminds me of everything that came before that and how many I failed and continue to fail every time we get there a second too late.

Typically, the only person I allow to come within five feet of me is Reagan, but she’s not here. And I suspect that’s what has turned this typical depressing day into one so dark that even though the sun is shining bright, a dark cloud looms over me.

I wanted nothing more than to rot in bed all day and try to forget the girl I once was, but it quickly failed.

Some twisted part of me believes Ari could somehow see that and is the reason we are here today. He knows what today is and knows that it is the one day of the year not to mess with me, but he’s never done more than offer an ear to talk or a shoulder to cry on.

Today he took a leap in what has turned out to be the right direction, because this is exactly what I needed.

Fresh air, quiet, and the sight of my favorite place where I come to forget or get a break from the chaos that is Braveheart.

Ari’s arm brushes against mine, and I tear my gaze away from the canyon.

“I know this is your day of silence, but any chance I could interrupt for just a moment?”

My brows furrow as curiosity and apprehension fill me. Despite my better judgement, because you truly never know what is going to come out of Aries Clark’s mouth, I nod.

Case in point, that this man wants me in ways I never imagined.