Page 118 of The Fallen Ones

“Let’s go,” Damien murmured. “Leave him to roast like the fucking pig he was.”

I backed away and got into the passenger side of Damien’s car. We drove back the way we’d came and stopped at the house. We quickly cleaned the mess from Brandon’s beating, washing away all the blood and evidence in silence until we got back onto the road. Sirens wailed in the distance, black smoke billowing into the sky.

“Good riddance,” I murmured.

Damien grunted as I pulled out my phone and called Caleb.

“How is she?” I asked when he answered.

“Asleep. I don’t think anything is broken.”

“Stay with her,” I said.

“I’m going to. If she asks, I’ll just say I was contacted to watch her by the Fallen Ones.”

I nodded. “That works. If anything changes… ” my voice wobbled.

“You’ll know”, Caleb answered fiercely. He was quiet for a moment. “How did you do it?”

I knew what he was asking.

“Car accident.”

“I hope it hurt like hell.”

“He screamed until the flames ate him whole,” I replied in a soft voice.

“Good.” Caleb’s words were fierce and laced with his fury.

“Did he… did he rape her?” I asked thickly.

“No. She said no.”

I breathed out a breath of relief and nodded. “I-I wish we could see her.”

“Soon, man. We’ll talk soon.”

“Soon.” I disconnected the call and looked out at the dark passing scenery.

“The things we do for love,” Damien commented as we drove through the night.

“The things indeed,” I said back.

Chapter 45

Lily

Iawoke the following morning feeling horrible. My head was screaming at me. My body ached. My face was swollen.

Caleb had stayed with me all night after one of the Fallon Ones left me with him. At least that’s what he told me. He said he didn’t get a name or care about one because he was worried about me.

“Here, Lil,” Caleb said, coming into the room and helping me to sit up. He offered me a glass of water and some painkillers. I drank greedily before popping the pills into my mouth and draining the rest of the glass.

He helped me back against my pillows.

I cried out at how sore I was, and he let out a soft noise.

My eyes met his and my breath caught.

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