Page 58 of Scorned

Even though I felt like Lyric should have been my top priority, saving my best friend from rotting away in a research lab had always stayed at the top of my list. Maybe that made me an asshole, but it felt nearly impossible to make everyone happy at the same damn time.

Sometimes, I believed things happened the way they’re supposed to. This was a sign I needed to let her go so she’d have a normal life with a man that could give her love and a family—give her the entire world.

Because in my mind, she deserved someone better than me.

Not long after Lyric left, Sage showed up, wanting to know what I found. I told her it would take me a while to go through the files and to check back when she awoke. Even though I should have said something about her uncle, I didn’t have enough mental energy to tell her.

After Sage left, I uploaded the files from the USB and hit the digital jackpot with the information I found. Not only did I have the coordinates for the closest VRC location, I also found six more facilities.

Venom attached Luka’s name and an identification number to a location only three hundred miles from here.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find Strike on any of the lists. But I wouldn’t reveal that information to my sister or anyone but Ravage for now.

I awoke with the sunset, and before I even had time to take a piss, Sage came knocking on my door, wondering if I found any info yet. I quickly filled her in on everything, and before we even talked to Drag or the others, she had me making hotel reservations—the first step in our new plan.

“There are only two bedrooms available, but there’s two beds per room. If we want more, we’ll have to wait three weeks.”

Sage’s head popped up from her phone. She had been staring at the map of the area by VRC for twenty minutes. “No more waiting. Luka’s been in there long enough, thanks to me. We have to go now. I’m not making him wait any longer.”

“Alright. We’ll have to bunk up.” I clicked confirm on the screen, reserving our rooms before a hard sigh left me.

Four days. We only had four days to get our shit together before we left on a mission that could cost some of us our lives. Sage hadn’t been training long enough and Lyric wasn’t speaking to me. These were only small weaknesses in our system, but weaknesses nonetheless.

Leaning back in the chair, I clasped my hands behind my head, my stare going to the ceiling. I yawned, exhaustion from last night hitting me. After sleeping next to Lyric for months, it felt weird being in bed alone this morning. It took me over an hour of laying there thinking about her before I finally dozed off.

“Did you have trouble sleeping alone after Luka was taken?” I asked, without looking at Sage.

“Um, that’s a random question.”

“Lyric is so pissed at me for going on the mission she slept at Steph’s, and I had trouble sleeping without her in bed.”

“I didn’t really have that issue because Luka and I never got the chance to be in a real relationship. But I have had trouble sleeping every night since he’s been gone. I have a lot of nightmares now. Some of them are about me killing people, but most of them are about Luka being tortured.”

Sage got quiet and besides the hum of my PC, her racing heart was the only sound filling the room. I knew she was in deep thought about what kind of torture Luka had been getting for months. Worse torture than my girlfriend being mad because I lied.

“Only a few more days,” I mumbled, breaking the silence. She didn’t respond, making my stare drift to her. “You hear me, Sage Stick?”

“What if he hates me, Winnie?” She bit her lip before dropping her head down, picking at her nails.

“That’s literally impossible.”

Her hazel eyes met mine, glazed with emotions. “I couldn’t save him and he probably hates me for it.”

The last thing I wanted was for Sage to go back to hiding from the world. I dropped my hands from my head and sat up. “Luka decided to sacrifice himself for you and he couldn’t possibly be mad at you for it. You need to let that shit go.”

Sage snickered, a playful expression on her face. “Or what, Pooh Bear? Are you going to yell at me?”

“No, but I might throw your ass in the lake again.”

“I would like to see you try, Asshole.”

We both laughed as I hopped up from my chair. “I gotta freshen up so we can fill everyone in on what I found. I have some other info you’re not gonna like.”

“Of course you do.” Sage stood from my recliner and headed for the door. “I’ll see you out there.”

Since I didn’t have time to shower, I quickly brushed my teeth because I had morning breath, but primarily in case Lyric decided she wanted to talk to me. If we made up, I wanted my breath to be fresh when I devoured her mouth.

Once outside, I went straight for the circle of people gathered around the bonfire. Lyric had taken a seat next to Erik, and she glanced at me before quickly averting her eyes. I snickered and surveyed the surroundings, pondering where to find a seat, as it definitely wouldn’t be next to her.

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