Page 7 of Oathbreaker

Are they together?

I can’t even fathom it.

Atlas would never touch his buddy’s little sister.

Unlike me.

“Are you coming back?” I ask finally, practically holding my breath as I wait for her response.

She doesn’t disappoint.

Her brows rise up toward her hairline as she snaps, “What the fuck are you talking about? Of course I’m coming back! You think I’m letting you disappear again?”

I almost smile.

Almost.

I sense she won’t take kindly to jokes right now, so I have to be careful.

She’s upset—and it has nothing to do with work.

“I’m not going anywhere, Thorny.” The old nickname slips off my tongue easily and it has the expected reaction: Aggravation.

Good.

I’d rather she be mad than resigned or indifferent.

If she’s mad, she still cares.

And that’s the most I can hope for.

Somehow, I have to dig myself out of the nightmare my life has become and find my way back to my family.

Three

Briar

My eyes are burning.

Then again, not sleeping after finding out my dead lover is actually alive after all these years will do that to a girl.

I’m so glad Royal and Jade promised to spend the day with Frankie today.

I don’t think I would have had it in me to keep up the charade all day.

We’re all a little subdued after Colt’s birthday, so the dark circles upon dark circles beneath my eyes can definitely be explained away by the heavy emotions and killer hangover.

But that fades as the day goes on.

Because life goes on.

Trying to hide the fact that Colt is alive and I didn’t immediately tell everyone…well, that’s not going to be a fun conversation.

I sigh.

I don’t even know why I didn’t immediately call Dash.

Yes, he’s injured. Yes, I was shocked.