Page 253

“I got that, too. And the family that I never had. I’m the lucky one.”

“You belong with us,” I told her.

“I do.” It was a wisp of adoration.

Then her phone vibrated on the table next to us. We both jumped, and she fumbled to grab it, smiling as she whispered in relief, “It’s Silas.”

Thank God.

Alleviation surged through my body, and the bottled dread abated.

Brinley thumbed into the message, and all the relief drained from her, horror gripping her features.

“It’s Trevan. They called for the club physician.”

It felt like an icicle piercing my soul.

And I was on my feet and running out the door.

FIFTY-SIX

TREVAN

The roar of our bikes echoed through the air as the sun slowly sank beneath the horizon. Cool wind lashed at my face, though it might as well have been gusts of fire with the way I felt like I was burning up.

Fury igniting flames that scorched and decimated.

The thirst to put an end to the one who’d been tormenting Elena for weeks. Stealing her joy when she’d finally been embarking on a quest to find it.

I might not be able to give her myself, but I could give her this.

I followed in formation beside Silas as we rode through town. Our bikes bridled stallions chomping at the bit to sprint toward our destination.

Destruction.

That’s where we were headed.

I could taste its venom on my tongue.

Our speed held, we made the few turns required to get onto Cutter Lane. We made the right, and the host of bikes rumbled as we blazed past The Crimson Apple Boutique, then Elena’s apartment complex a couple miles up the road.

Made me sick to my stomach to think that this fucker had been right there. So close. Right under our noses.

But he was now within our grip.

Once we got past Elena’s place, we opened up our throttles, the roar of the engines shouting like demons in the coming night.

The two-lane road was basically deserted, only the random car coming in the opposite direction zipping by.

Halfway up, the other squad gathered behind us.

A massacre throttling our way up the mountain.

We wound higher, the stripes on the twisty road flashing by in a drumbeat of decimation.

A pound, pound, pound that hammered at my chest and sent violence thundering through my veins.

A virus that I’d gladly carry if it meant keeping Elena safe.