Page 177 of After the Burn

“Ask any names.”

“Why?” Damn, were they not even allowed to talk to each other?

She shook her head. “Just drink.”

I took another sip. “Do you know a blonde girl? Her name’s Lila.”

Every bit of color left her face. “I have to go.”

“Wait! Please!” I begged, but she didn’t even slow down.

I sighed and drank the rest of the water, not knowing when they’d deign to bring me more.

By late afternoon, I knew which men worked in the garage. I knew Curtis was the only one with a ring of keys hanging from his belt. I’d spotted several more enhanced men, and I’d seen even more who weren’t enhanced.

Yet, Lila was nowhere to be seen, and I hadn’t caught a single mention of her name.

Motorcycles growled somewhere beyond the garage. Several engines rolled through the gate before cutting off almost together.

Men shouted outside, and I heard someone laugh. Whoever had arrived wasn’t a stranger here, and I moved closer to the steel bars and listened. Boots crossed the gravel, and a door slammed.

A voice drifted through the open garage entrance. “Caesar around?”

Every muscle in my body locked.

No.

No way.

I knew that voice.

Footsteps came closer.

A man appeared in the doorway.

Alive.

Beck had shot him. I saw it. I’d watched the bastard fall as we were running away.

Nash stopped when he saw me and smiled slowly. “Well, hello there, Taryn. Long time no see.”

My stomach dropped.

Well, shit.

I closed my eyes, hoping that he’d somehow be gone when I opened them.

Nope, no such luck.

He stood outside the steel cage with one shoulder resting against the frame, helmet tucked beneath his arm, scar cutting pale and ugly along the side of his face.

At least Beck’s bullet had marked the son of a bitch.

“Surprised to see me?” He smirked.

I really hated that I could see the resemblance between him and Beck.

I leaned back against the wall. “Disappointed is more like it.”