Page 32 of Jolt's Vengeance

Sienna's eyes glisten in the soft glow of the streetlights as we approach the frat house.

The thump of the bass grows louder with each step, but I barely notice it.

My attention is fixed on the subtle tremor in Sienna's voice as she finally answers my question about her grandmother.

"I’m not trying to evade your questions. It’s just hard. My gran... she passed away last winter, just before I graduated high school," Sienna says, her words barely above a whisper.

My heart clenches. "Oh, Sienna, I'm so sorry."

She shrugs, but I can see the pain etched in the tightness around her eyes. "It's okay. I mean, it's not, but... she left me a little inheritance. It's how I can afford college."

I reach out and squeeze her arm gently. "That must have been hard, losing her right before such a big milestone."

Sienna nods, swallowing hard. "Yeah, it was. But the money... it's enough to get me through four years here, with a bit left over to start my life after graduation. It's more than I ever expected, really."

I think about my own family back in Montana—Mom, my father, my sisters.

Despite our complicated history, I've never truly been alone.

The thought of Sienna facing the world without anyone makes my chest ache.

"What about Christmas?" I ask, a plan already forming in my mind. "Do you have somewhere to go?"

Sienna shakes her head, her ponytail swaying with the movement. "Not really. Gran was... well, she was the only person I had left in this world."

The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. "Come to Montana with me."

Sienna's eyes widen. "What? No, Aggie, that's too much. I couldn't possibly?—"

"Nonsense," I cut her off, my Scottish stubbornness flaring up. "You're coming home with me for Christmas, and that's that."

"But—"

"No buts," I insist, channeling my mother's no-nonsense tone. "We've got plenty of room, and trust me, one more person at the table won't make a difference. Besides," I add with a grin, "you haven't lived until you've experienced a proper Montana Christmas, and add in the fact you’ll be with Reapers Rejects. Well, that’s an experience in itself!"

Sienna looks torn between gratitude and hesitation. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose..."

I loop my arm through hers, pulling her close as we near the frat house. "Sienna, listen to me. Where I come from, family isn'tjust about blood. It's about who you choose to surround yourself with. And I'm choosing you."

As the words leave my mouth, I realize how true they are.

Despite our short time knowing each other, I feel a kinship with Sienna.

Maybe it's because we both understand what it's like to have complicated family histories, or maybe it's just the bond of shared experiences at college.

Whatever it is, I know in my gut that bringing her home is the right thing to do.

Sienna's eyes well up with tears, and for a moment, I worry I've overstepped.

But then she throws her arms around me in a tight hug.

"Thank you, Aggie," she whispers. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

I hug her back, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "That's what family does, lass. We take care of each other."

As we break apart, wiping away tears and laughing a little at our emotional display, I can't help but think about how different my life is now compared to just a few months ago.

The bass from the frat house reverberates through my chest as Sienna and I approach the sprawling two-story building.

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