Page 124 of Wicked Nightmare

Kyle stepped forward. "No catch. Just a chance to do this right."

I laughed. "Right? I don't think any of us here are too concerned with doing things 'right.'"

But even as I said it, there was a pull. A safe place to plan, to catch our breath. We were running out of time here. It was a fucking miracle we'd never been caught. There was only so much more screaming the neighbors would chalk up to rough sex before the cops started showing up. If Chimera didn't come looking for Rose first.

I looked at Rose on the couch, fiddling with her shirt. Then at Cam, shoulders tight, his hand squeezing his thigh. We were in deep already. How much deeper could we go?

"What do you think, sugar?" I asked. "Fancy a little field trip?"

"Could be useful," Cam said finally.

I nodded, turning back to Sarah and Kyle. "Alright. Let's see this super-secret clubhouse of yours."

As we started gathering our things, it felt like stepping off a cliff into the unknown.

But hell, that's where Cam and I had always felt most at home, wasn't it? In the chaos. In the danger.

And this was nothing if not completely fucked up. Right in line with where we shine.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Cam

Lakey shoved clothes into her duffel bag, her movements sharp and jerky. She'd been flipping back and forth all week and it was getting hard to tell what she was thinking.

"Ugh fuck, I don’t like this," she muttered, not for the first time. "We shouldn't trust these people."

I zipped up my own bag and sighed. "We don't have much choice, babe. It's either go with them or wait for Chimera to find us. Besides, you're the one who said yes for the group, so why are you acting like it's such a horrible idea all of a sudden?"

Lakey's eyes flashed. "Maybe we should let them find us. I'd love to get my hands on those fuckers." She threw my sweats at me, smacking me in the face. "And just because I said yes doesn't mean I think it's a great idea. You're supposed to be my North Star, pointing me in the right direction, so really, if this goes sideways, it's your fucking fault and you will not stand in my way, especially if I get to kill people. Got it? Ugh. I hate not sleeping in my own damn bed."

A grin tugged at my lips. God, I loved it when she got all fiery. "As hot as that would be, we're out skilled. For now, at least. Besides, you'll have Rose. I think you just don't wanna leave our space, and that's fine, Lakes, but as much as I hate to admit it, they're right. I can't protect you if we get swarmed or overrun." She hated when I talked about protecting her. She was fully capable and I knew that, but it didn't take away from the fact that she was my girl, and it was my job to put myself between her and death wherever I could.

She huffed but didn't argue further. She saw the logic, even if she hated it.

She continue her frantic packing, while my mind drifted back to the shithole foster home where we first started lashing out. The first time our "dad" laid hands on her, she went to sit in the corner of the yard and began methodically pulling the wings off flying ants. She didn't cry, didn't scream. She took his beating and bore the blue and purple bruises for weeks. She put her head down and took her rage out in a different way, honing skills that had been born into her heart of darkness. I decided right then that one day, I'd take revenge for every bruise anyone ever laid on her body.

I also knew that she was meant to be mine.

"Earth to Cam," Lakey's voice snapped me back. "You good?"

I blinked, refocusing on her face. "Yeah, just thinking about the good old days."

Her lips quirked up. "Foster care or juvie?"

"Foster care. Remember how we used to sneak out at night?"

Lakey's smile turned wistful. "Yeah. Simpler times."

I snorted. "If by simpler you mean constantly dodging belt-wielding drunks, sure."

She shrugged. "At least the enemies were obvious back then."

I couldn't argue with that. These days, it was getting harder to tell friend from foe.

"We better get out there," I said, nodding towards the door. "Make sure our new friends aren't planning to screw us over."

Lakey nodded and hefted her bag. We headed out to the main room. Sarah and Kyle were by the door, geared up and ready. Rose stood off to the side, clutching a pathetically small backpack.

"Is that all you're bringing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.