Page 99 of Scarred in Silence

I kiss her forehead before I go. My lips linger. I hate her for doing this. I hate myself more for letting her.

When I come back the next day, Christian meets me outside.

“She woke up.”

“Did she remember anything?”

He shrugs. “Not much. I told her whatever you wanted. That she was here on her own. I didn’t touch her.”

“She thinks you did.”

“She looked at me like she wanted to vomit. Probably safer that way.”

I nod. “Let her think it. Just keep her breathing.”

“She asked who saved her.”

My jaw tenses. “And what did you say?”

“I said maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.”

A beat of silence passes between us.

“You sure she’s gonna stay?”

“No.” I turn toward the house, watching through the window as Astra drags herself out of the bathroom. “But wherever she goes next… I’ll find her.”

Christian crosses his arms. “You’re playing a dangerous game,man.”

“I don’t play games.”

“You’re stalking a girl who wants to be dead.”

“It’s not stalking,” I mutter. “It’s a rescue.”

Christian snorts. “If you say so.”

“She left Evelyn. She left everything. If she stays in this place, she dies.”

He eyes me. “Then what are you gonna do?”

“I’m going to wait,” I say. “Until she runs again.”

“And then?”

I look him dead in the eyes. “Then I’ll bring her home.”

38

Lucien

We left before dawn.

Dante drove. I needed my hands free. My mind is sharper than any blade tucked under the floorboards. The world is still dark, the dark that lets monsters slip unnoticed through motel lots and rest stops. Good. We are the monsters today.

“I tapped a burner signal near Moab,” Dante muttered.

“He’s running scared.”