Page 88 of Into the Light

I shook my head in agreement. With one last deep inhale, the smell of pines wafted through my nose. I looked around me as warm fingers wiped the wetness from my cheeks.

I took one more deep breath before I gestured behind us where my bike still stood. “Let’s go find him.”

Ember looked down, clutching her letter to her chest, and I turned to walk away.

“Rain,” she shouted, and I turned toward her. She closed the gap between us and reached for me.

I looked down at her hand and then back up, locking my gaze with hers. Her eyes told such a different story than the rest of her. They were soft and gentle. I grabbed her hand, we walked in silence toward the bike where she tucked the envelope next to mine and put on her helmet.

I revved the engine, but right before she leaped onto the back, she looked at me and whispered, “I love you.”

The words could have been heard through the pines, ringing out like a melody before settling into their rightful place—my heart.

“Together,” I whispered back.

Chapter thirty-one

We pulled up to the Alpha house and parked in front. Rain hesitated while I practically stormed off the bike, so I had to gesture to him to follow me.

“I guess it’s been so ingrained in my head that this house is bad and dangerous it just feels weird to pull up here.” He sighed before shaking his head and then opening the compartment where our letters were stored.

Our letters. It was hard to even say it to myself, let alone talk about it with Walsh, but I wanted to see the proof Walsh held and why he of all people had it.

I bounded toward the house, pounding onto the door until one of the members answered it.

“Where is he?” I growled at the guy. Poor guy didn’t realize he was in the crosshairs of an angry sister.

“Up-upstairs,” he mumbled before looking over my shoulder, then quickly straightened. “Oh no, absolutely not. He is not coming in here.”

“Yes, he is. We need to see Walsh.” The guy stood in front of the door, blocking us.

“No. He’s not coming in unless there is an official meeting.” The guy’s eyes softened at me. “Come on, little sister, you know I cannot let you guys in together.”

“Call him down. Make the meeting official. I don’t care what happens, but we need to see him immediately.”

“I don’t know—”

“Let them in,” my brother’s familiar voice echoed from behind the guy at the door.

“Thank fuck,” I muttered before reaching behind me for Rain’s hand. Rain didn’t hesitate. My brother would figure this out, anyway, and I needed Rain’s support as much as he needed mine.

Walsh guided us to the office or converted meeting room in the back of the house where most of his business dealings took place. He closed the door behind us before sitting atop the desk and gesturing to two chairs in front.

I shook my head before I held out the letters in their Ziploc bags and shoved them at Walsh.

“Open it if you need to, but I think you already know what these are.” My tone was bitter.

Rain came next to me, wrapping his arm across my lower back and giving my hip a comforting squeeze.

Walsh coughed. “Ah, I see you guys finally found them. I was hoping you—”

“Did you know where they were?” I barked.

“No, Ember. I swear he didn’t tell me their location.”

“Fuck,” I cried. I would not let the tears come, but the anger was coursing through my veins deeply.

“Show us what you have,” Rain added, and I snapped my attention toward him. His eyes met mine with some softness and comfort in them, but I didn’t want to give my brother any mercy.

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