Page 68 of Savage Rule

I look at him and shrug. “You know. People like us don’t go to Heaven, Gunn. I won’t see her again. She won’t know how truly sorry I am.”

He doesn’t argue the point. Instead, he reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “She knows.”

21

SCARLET

I’ve slept in all kinds of places over the years —a park bench, under a bridge, at a zoo— but never in a cemetery.

I woke half an hour ago and for the first time ever, I felt strangely at ease among the dead. It’s peaceful and quiet. Safe.

It might not have anything to do with the release of emotions from last night, or the man that guarded my dreams as I slept. Maybe it’s only because of that I can finally breathe.

Gently, I move Gunn’s hand off my hip and sit up. There’s still a light mist hovering in the air, coating everything in dew. Rivulets of water run down Alma’s headstone, and I reach to catch one on my fingertip.

A smile paints across my lips as something like peace washes over me.

“Good morning.” Gunn caresses my cheek.

“Hey.” I peer down at him.

“How do you feel?”

“Better.” I reach for his hand and entwine my fingers through his. “Thank you for bringing me here. How did you know what I needed?”

“I didn’t. Just kind of went with my gut.”

“You have good instincts.”

“Yeah.” He smirks sarcastically. “So good I didn’t see Luca’s big knife before he stabbed me in the back with it. I feel like an idiot for trusting him.”

“Maybe your gut wasn’t so off. He let you go.”

His eyes narrow as he considers that. “But something is still off.”

“Do you think he had an ulterior motive?”

“At this point, I can’t rule anything out.” He sits up too and drops his head low as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “You were right. We should have run.”

I’m about to answer when my phone buzzes. I pull it out of my boot and read the text that just came in. “It’s Gideon.”

“Let me guess, he’s checking in to make sure I’m dead.”

I shake my head and let him read it for himself.

Gideon: 899 Are you safe? Got a notice about a fire at The Keaton Banks Orphanage.

He looks at me. “Did you tell him about that place?”

“No. But he could have had that information dug up on you easily.”

His jaw ticks and he glances away, but not before I see his eyes glass over. “They set fire to it.”

“It might have been an accident.” I squeeze his arm, wishing I could provide the same amount of comfort he did me in my hour of need. “We should return and find out what the damage is.”

“It’s too risky.”

I look at my phone. Then, doing something else that could prove to be risky, I reply to Gideon.

---