Page 87 of Darkness Falls

"Yeah, do we have time to talk about it?"

"Not really. We should get out of here to avoid any potential incidents, but you can't just say something like that and not expect me to have questions." How the hell is that even possible, and how did Barrett not know?

I focus my attention back on getting her unchained as she tells me her parents were actually the Stones. They left her a note and a box after they died. I click the lock free just as she tells me about some lawyer lady she met up with and got them from.

"Wait! We need to go check on Reese. Damien was watching me. What if he hurt her because of me?" she says while rubbing the skin around her ankle before standing.

“Reese?” I question.

“Yeah, the lawyer I slept with after she gave me the stuff from my parents. I thought you were the brother who listened?”

I roll my eyes. "We can stop there once we get back to Braxton Falls. Are you good to walk out of here?"

She nods. “Let’s get out of here. I don't want to stay down here any longer than I already have."

When I start to walk out of the room, she reaches out to grab my elbow. "What is it?"

"Is Callie okay? He took me because he wanted to hurt her."

"She’s fine. She's with Sebastian right now, getting ready to make a big-ass distraction so we can blow this compound to bits."

"Good," she agrees.

We walk up the stairs, and I pause briefly before looking out to make sure we are alone. You can never be too careful, and I'd rather not get shot again. There’s nobody there, so I grab Avery’s hand, and we start running. I don't give either one of us a chance to relax until we are away from the house and in the security of the tree line surrounding the compound.

"We have a bit of a walk to where we parked. You're not hurt at all, are you?" I didn’t think to ask her before.

"I'm fine."

She turns to look toward the compound and then back to me. "I can't imagine what Callie went through living here. I know she's told us some things, but it had to be so much worse. I'm scared, Kyler. I don't know how she's going to react when she finds out she could have met her birth parents this entire time. I feel so guilty for not introducing her to them."

"You couldn't have known. It's not your fault."

She breaks down, face full of tears. I step over and pull her into a hug, letting her sob into my shoulder. We have a few minutes tolet her gather her emotions before we have to get back to the car, and it sounds like she could just use a friend right now.

"You can't blame yourself for any of this. Damien is the sole person responsible, and he will pay for it."

She nods, unsure of what to say. I don't think anything else needs to be said. With that, I grab her hand in the most friendly way possible and lead her toward the car.

Callie is strong, and she’ll be able to handle the news; I know it. She may be upset, but she has a sister now. Avery can pass along the memory of her parents through photos and stories. It'll be enough to get them through. It has to be.

We walk for a bit before the car comes into view. I'm the first one out of my brothers to make it back, and it has me pacing back and forth, unable to stop. Barrett should be back soon if everything goes to plan. He should be signaling Seb and Callie, and the bombs should all be in place.

Now that my part is done, I have to sit and wait. I glance over to Avery and see her crying again. She’s sitting on the ground next to the car with her legs crossed, staring out into the trees. If I weren't so anxious right now, I’d try to comfort her again, but I don’t think that will help much this time. She needs Callie just as much as I do.

Chapter 41

Sebastian

"Callie," Damien says, and she snaps her head in his direction. It's obvious she hasn't been paying attention and isn't doing much to hide the fact.

"Huh?" She raises a brow.

"Pay attention," Damien says.

Yeah, he can fuck right off. He doesn’t need to talk to her like that, and if we were anywhere else, I’d make him apologize. She clearly has no intention of listening to anything he says, and that fills me with pride. I love seeing her so strong and resilient toward someone who put her through so much.

"Callie, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Austin asks her.

---