Page 12 of Wicked Revenge

That girl sleeps like the dead.

“Morning, Cinderella,” I say, smirking at her childhood nickname I gave her when she couldn’t come to play with me because she was stuck inside helping her family at Twisted most days. “Though with the way you sleep, maybe Sleeping Beauty is more accurate.”

“Good morning, Rae, though it isn't morning anymore, is it?”

She looks out the window at the bright sun. She runs her hands up her face and into her hair, smoothing out her braid, before looking back at me and smiling, “Ya know, the red suits you better than the blonde. I love it! Maybe I’ll dye mine. I think I need a change too.”

“Oh, yes please. I’ll help you. It will be just like old times– playing dress-up and doing each other's hair.”

Memories of our friendship over the years flash through my mind. Ella has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Before I was taken, I can’t remember a single childhood memory she wasn’t present for.

We were inseparable. We had plans after high school– even if we didn’t know exactly what we wanted out of life. We were going to go to college and figure it out together.

I’d love nothing more than to get back to living a carefree life with my best friend. Maybe that starts with helping her change her hair.

“Ooooh, what about pink? With undercut sides? It would match the whole badass biker-bitch vibe you’ve got going on now,” I suggest, pouring the warm stew back into the containers and take them to the table so we can eat.

“Maybe,” she responds with her hand on her chin like she is really thinking about it. “So, I’ve got to run soon so I can check on Mom before going in to work, but I will have some groceries delivered to Twisted today. I can slip away later with Dad's truck and bring them out.”

“Thank you, El.” The gratitude I feel makes my voice crack, and I clear my throat. “I have to head out too, so we can ride out together.”

“You gonna ride bitch with me, Rae?” She smirks at me.

“Oh no, you’ll see.” I return the smirk back to her. “You better eat fast.”

We scarf down our stew and get dressed. She puts yesterday’s outfit back on since it’s all she has here, and I dress in my usual all-black attire– leather leggings, tank top, hoodie, and knee-high boots similar to hers.

I grab my black leather jacket from the hook by the door and slip it on. Ella slips on her white one before we make our way outside and around to the shed.

When I unlock the shed and roll Nightshade out from the shadows, the sound of Ella’s squeal makes a flock of birds in the trees flee.

“Oh. My. Fucking. God. Are you fucking serious right now? This is fucking perfect!” Her excitement over our shared interest has me smiling.

I love riding alone, but I do miss riding with other people. Once everything is settled here in Shadow Forest, maybe Ella and I will be able to ride together somewhere other than just down my driveway.

“This is Nightshade,” I introduce her, pushing my bike around to the front next to hers. “Does yours have a name?”

“I call him Gus.” She shrugs while smiling and pats her seat before mounting the bike.

We slip our helmets on and take off down the driveway, speeding ahead of each other before falling back, and doing it again and again.

We make it to my hideaway spot quicker than I normally do alone and slow to a stop together. Ella pops her visor up and kills her engine, I can see her grinning ear to ear.

“I’ll go on foot from here for now,” I tell her, easing Nightshade in place and covering her with the brush. “Thank you for coming over. I’ve missed you, El.”

“Bitch don’t make me cry, I’ve missed you so much. This is just the beginning. I’m going to help you take him down– including his men. We’re going to free this town and everyone in it from their cruelty. This is going to work, Rae, I just know it.”

“It will. I won’t stop until one of us is dead,” I assure her as determination sets in and I tuck my curls into my hood once more. I grab her forearm and stare into her eyes. “I can do this.”

“We can do this,” she insists, gripping my arm back and squeezing tight.

“Th-thank you, El,” I nod back at her, trying to steady my voice as it breaks amidst the emotion swirling inside me.

I’m so grateful she’s with me. I’ve missed her so fucking much.

“Are you sure you don’t want a ride into town? I know the walk isn’t far, but you don’t have to walk if you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to walk. I need some time to decompress,” I tell her honestly. I know she gets it. Even if it's been years since we’ve seen each other, she knows me better than I know myself.

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