Page 83 of Under an Endless Moon

Always laughing.

Wanting to take on the world. Live it big and beautiful and free.

I crept forward until I was standing right over him, staring down at the pathetic fuck who had no idea justice was coming for him.

I had my knife out with the tip pressed to his throat before heeven knew I was there, then his eyes were popping open to the darkness where I stood over him like a wraith.

A reaper who’d come to collect.

The dark storm of my words a fulfilled prophecy.

“Did you think I’d let you get away? Did you think I wouldn’t make you suffer for what you did? Did you think I would forget?”

Hate spun me into disorder as bile prowled up and down my throat. Seven years had passed. Seven years since the three of them had disappeared. Seven years that I’d been hunting. Seven years of this motherfucker thinking he’d gotten away.

“There is no place you could have run that I wouldn’t have found you.”

Because I’d sworn over Haddie’s grave none of them would get away with what they’d done. They would atone for their sins. And that atonement had come due.

It was past midnight the next night when I pulled my truck up to my cabin that glowed like a lantern hung in the woods. The gold haze spilling from the windows whispered of peace and sanctuary.

Funny since I’d never felt a chaos so severe than right then.

Jonah leaned against the exterior wall, pulling in a deep drag of a cigarette as he gazed at the endless sky, though he lifted a hand in hello as I approached.

I pressed the button to lift the garage door, and I eased my truck inside. I killed the engine and stepped out to Jonah coming around my truck to greet me.

“Hey, man, how’d it go?”

I’d given him the same faulty excuse that I was running a legit trip.

“Good. Wiped, but good.” Guilt nearly swallowed me, my head spinning as I attempted to keep myself together.

“All quiet around here?” I forced out, angling my head to indicate the house.

“Yup. Bedroom light went out about two hours ago. Think she’sout for the night. Of course, she insisted on feeding me every meal for the last twenty-four hours sinceI was the poor bastard who got assigned to keep the grizzly bears away.”He chuckled when he said it.

“Shocker,” I said, almost hearing her voice verbatim.

“She’s a sweet one,” Jonah mused.

“The best,” I said low, glancing at the interior door like I might be able to see her form through it. Like I might be able to feel her warmth radiating out. Fall into its comfort.

I looked back at him. “Thanks for hanging out.”

“Any time.” Then he hesitated, his eyes narrowed. “You sure you’re good?”

My spirit rumbled, and I managed a half-cocked grin. “Yeah. Just a long trip.”

“All right, man. Get some rest.”

I gave him a jut of my chin then closed the garage door behind him as he walked to his bike off to the side of the drive. He turned it over, the low grumble echoing through as he took off.

Only I couldn’t bring myself to go upstairs. I grabbed a bottle of Jack that I had left half drunk on one of the worktables, spun off its cap, and tipped it up so I could take a giant gulp.

I rambled back to my truck and slunk down in the driver’s seat, every few minutes guzzling at that bottle like I was going to find the answer at the bottom of it.

It burned as I gulped it down, hitting my stomach in a liquid fire that toiled and tumbled like the pits of hell.

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