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I move in an attempt to run. My body doesn’t budge. My hands and feet are bound. I jump and trip. My body slams onto a bed of broken glass, and I scream out in pain.
“Please leave me alone,” I plead. My eyes well up with tears. I wriggle my wrists, and the rope burns into my skin.
“You will join our brother in a grave.” He laughs, sending chills down my spine. The gun he’s holding comes up, pointing directly at my head. “Say hi to Nash for me.”
He pulls the trigger.
I bolt upright. My clothes cling to my damp body. My hand grips my chest.
My eyes dart around the room. “No, he’s dead. He can’t hurt me anymore,” I whisper.
To the left of me, the bed is empty. Hunter has been occupying that space since I was injured, and now he’s not here when I need him. My stomach is a ball of knots that tighten each time I recall the dream.
It felt so real.
Steadying my breath, I hear some faint voices.
“She isn’t ready to meet your father.” May sounds angry.
It’s been a week since I told Hunter I’d join him. Things between us are still the same—we kiss, touch, and explore each other, but he seems to think I’m still fragile. My sling is off, and the doctor came and checked my shoulder. She’s given me some exercises to slowly and gently rebuild its strength.
“She is ready, May.” Hunter sighs. “Aelina is stronger than you realize.”
“I’m sure she is, but I didn’t want her in this life. I didn’t want it for any of my children. Growing up in this darkness is all I know, and I don’t want her to only know the darkness too.”
I climb out of bed and slip out my door, tiptoeing down the hallway and stopping in the shadows to listen.
“May, the way she was brought up wasn’t the greatest. She is stronger than you give her credit for. I knew it from the moment I first saw her.”
“Hunter...” She sighs.
“She’ll be fine.”
I step out from the shadows. “I’ll be fine for what?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
Two shocked faces turn toward me.
“How much did you hear?” Hunter questions.
May appears exasperated. “Something about meeting your father,” I say.
They look at each other, then back to me. “I’m sick of the secrets. Secrets are what got us into this problem in the first place.” I point to May. “You, removing my sisters and me from our family. Your heart was in the right place, and for all you knew, Hunter could have been exactly like his father...” I pause, rubbing my forehead. “I justdon’t want any more secrets. I don’t want the same mistakes repeated.”
“She’s right,” May practically whispers. “This is all my fault.”
I rush to her side. “No, don’t think like that. You did what you thought was right. If you didn’t do it, I probably wouldn’t be who I am today. We can’t ponder the what-ifs of our life. We can only focus on the present and the future.” I take her in my arms and hug her tightly.
She nods into my shoulder. “Thank you. It still doesn’t make me feel any better, though.”
Stepping back, she runs her hand down my cheek and walks down the hallway. Seeing her so deflated hurts. I don’t want her to have these feelings of guilt. It’s all in the past. I’ve let it go, and I can only hope she does too.
Hunter comes up beside me. “She will be all right.” He turns to me. “Why are you awake?”
Clearing my throat, I say, “I had a bad dream, then heard you both attempting to argue quietly. It wasn’t quiet.” I give him a pointed look.
“Sorry about that.” He takes my hand, and a flutter stirs in my stomach. Every touch between us is like this. After leading me back to the bedroom, he closes the door behind him. “Tell me about your dream.” He releases my hand and slides back into his side of the bed.
I’m silent as I join him, but he doesn’t push. Taking a breath, I say, “It was about Miles.” My throat swells at the mention of his name.
