Page 25 of Fatal Vengeance

I’m floored for a second, leaning back because my cousin has that familiar violence burning in his eyes that he only gets for Prudence and right now, that look is pointed my way. I quickly school my features, though, and grit out, “There’s no time for that conversation! Do you not feel the same urgency as I do? I would have thought you’d be the first to agree to carrying Prudence out of here tossed over your shoulder if you knew she was in danger. Maybe you’re not as devoted as you seem.”

It’s a low fucking blow, and I might just get knocked out for it, but at this point, I’m desperate to get us all moving. I’m nearly shaking with the nerves and fear riding my ass, and if pissing off my unhinged cousin gets my family out of this goddamn cabin, then I’ll happily wear the bruises he gives me in exchange.

He narrows his eyes and stands upright, his hands fisting at his sides as he steps into my space. “Of course I want her out of here! I want her to survive all of this bullshit and live a long, happy life, but part of that is respecting her wishes and boundaries, and I know for a fact that she would not be okay with any more fucking secrets. This is me standing up for her, because I’m so in love with that woman that I’d bleed myself dry at her request,” he seethes dangerously, his light brown eyes darkening with a threatening aura. “You want to hightail it out of here? Fine. I’m with you. But we will be having this conversation and you will be telling us whatever’s been eating at you the second we’re all packed into the car. And, Asher, if whatever it is hurts her, I will beat your fucking ass into the ground and leave you to rot. I’m done playing games. Either treat her right, or get the fuck out of our lives.”

I grind my teeth together at the threat, but I manage a nod. I’ll come clean. I’ll mend things with Prudence. And I’ll be keeping all of us together despite The Celestials trying to kill us.

Creed stares at me for another moment and then scoffs like he’s dismissing me and turns away from me to find Prudence. Only he doesn’t make it far, because she comes storming out of the guest bedroom like her ass is on fire, her eyes wide and terrified, and I’m instantly on high alert.

Shit, did someone get into the cabin somehow? Climb in through her window? Where the fuck is Griffin?

Before I can dive headfirst into my renewed panic, Griffin and Genevieve come out behind Prudence right as she pushes past Creed and me, snarling, “Show me the fucking box. Let’s see what those motherfuckers are throwing at us next.”

I lurch forward and grab her wrist to stop her, but fuck, she's strong when she's pissy. Prudence snatches her arm out of my grip and glares at me. "Do not touch me right now, Asher, because I'm on a very thin knife's edge and nobody will like me when I tip over," she snaps, stripping my skin from my bones with her expression alone.

I open my mouth to argue, because that's just what we do, but Genevieve beats me to it. "We don't need to open it. Let's just get you out of here, okay? There's nothing on my cameras, so whoever dropped it off is gone for now, but we don't know when they'll be back."

Griffin's lips curl up into a sneer as he stares Genevieve down. "Good fucking use those cameras were. Did you not get an alert when these psychos were here? What if they had barged inside and murdered all of us?"

If it's at all possible, Prudence gets more pale at that thought, but it only makes her more determined to get to the box. While Genevieve is apologizing and explaining how The Celestials must have shut her security down for half an hour to slip in and out, Prudence closes the distance between herself and the table and then, with a deep breath, lifts the flaps open.

The smell hits me first.

Blood. Death. Decay.

It's a wonder it hadn't seeped through the cardboard and made this entire cabin reek. So not a bomb then. Body parts it is.

All of us move in closer to Prudence while she goes eerily still. Creed steps up beside her, takes one look inside and then curses under his breath.

"What is it?" Griffin murmurs at the same time I say, "Fuck, let me see."

Creed tries to wrap his arm around Prudence, trying to console her, but the moment he touches her, she lurches away from him and runs to the kitchen sink, where she pukes until her entire body is trembling.

I'm torn between going to her and checking the contents of the box, but when Creed and Griffin both go to her before I've made up my mind, I leave her to them. She likes them better than she likes me anyway, so I doubt I would have been much help. No, what I can help with is dealing with the rotting body part sitting on the table.

I move over to it, holding my breath, and I'm surprised when Genevieve comes up beside me. "You don't have to look," I mutter to her, but she just scoffs at me. When I finally look inside, I really wish I hadn't.

I'm not squeamish, but the way the flesh is loose and decaying, slipping from the skull is almost enough to have me joining Prudence in emptying my stomach. It takes me a moment to see past all the rot and realize who the hell's head I'm staring at, but then it hits me and my heart breaks a little bit more for my poor little pet.

It's Annie.

The only friend Prudence made at Blackwood University.

I say as much to her sister, quietly so Prudence doesn't hear and start retching again. Genevieve sniffles, subtly blinking away tears that I'm assuming are sympathy, and then she leaves me with the box to go to her sister. I watch for a second as all three of them surround Prudence, murmuring softly, offering gentle touches, and then I do something I'll have nightmares about later.

I reach inside and shift the head to make sure there's nothing else in there.

Everything is slimy. I'm going to have to soak in bleach for at least an hour before I feel right in my skin again, but when my fingers brush against thick cardstock, I'm glad I shoved my hand inside. I pull it out gently, trying real hard not to touch the flesh anymore than I absolutely need to.

Foolish of you to leave someone you cared about behind… We'll be seeing you very soon.

"Fuck," I spit, a whole new fire lit under my ass. "Everyone get in the fucking car," I snarl as I toss the note down to the table and stomp through the cabin. I need to wash my hands in the hottest water my skin can handle, and I expect them to be outside and ready to go by the time I'm finished.

And then we're fucking leaving.

Except when I come out of the bathroom a few minutes later to find everyone right where I left them, a snarl on my goddamn face, Prudence looks me dead in the eye and says, "I'm not running anymore, Asher. It doesn't matter where we go, they'll find us. You know that as well as I do. I'm not leaving… I want to fight."

God-fucking-dammit.

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