Page 82 of Savage Scream

“What have you learned about our past?” he asks, and I roll my eyes, even though he can’t see me. Of course, he latches on to that part of the information and not the pressing issue of him needing to escape the Kerrs’ clutches.

“Long story short, the Angels are our aunties. They are… were dad’s half-sisters. And the reason why Bianca is so adamant about killing me is because she was your mum’s sister. She’syourauntie, Trav. She’s not going to stop hunting me until she gets revenge for Catherine’s death.”

“Fucking hell,” he rasps. “She’s been my auntie all this fucking time and hasn’t said anything?”

“Yes,” I state and he curses again.

“Fuck. Ok, Ell. I’ll meet you at sunrise tomorrow. Outside the Rogans’?”

A lump forms in my throat, and tears prick my eyes as he says the words I’ve been waiting so long to hear. Clearing my throat, I answer. “Yes. Ok. Sunrise tomorrow morning.”

We quickly say our goodbyes and hang up, and I turn to see Jared standing right behind me.

“Sunrise tomorrow? That’s when you’re leaving?”

The tears that I’d been fighting pop free, burning trails down my cheeks as I take in the broken look on his face.

Technically, we could stay and get Griffin to help hide us, but then we’d owe him, and this stupid cycle of favours will never end.

Slowly, as I peer up through blurry eyes, I nod.

Jared is silent for a moment, sucking in a breath as he drags his eyes from mine to look out over the school oval behind me. He’s biting the inside of his cheek, a deep frown tugging his brows closer and his nostrils flare.

Oh fuck.

This is harder than I thought.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper on a sob, and his blue gaze, filled with his own tears, darts back to mine before he reaches out and tugs me to his chest.

He holds me so tight, pressing his lips to the top of my head and lingering there for long moments.

This is it. Our last night together. I wanted another week, but after the revelations of yesterday, I was stupid to let myself think that I could have more. I need to keep my brother safe, and the only way to do that is by running far away from here.

Jared and I stand on the fringe of the oval for a long time, both of us together, yet dealing with turmoil in our own heads.

When we pull apart, Jared cups my face, using his thumbs to wipe away my tears.

“What do you want to do on your last night in Fox Pines?”

I sniff a few times, batting away the last of my tears. “I want to kill the last people on the list.”

Jared frowns. “Why bother? You’re leaving anyway. It’s not your problem anymore.”

I shrug. “I’m angry, so I need to kill someone. And also, if I finish the list, when I’m gone, Griffin can’t hold anything over you or your family.”

He shakes his head. “Nah, fuck that, Dee. I can handle Griffin myself.”

“Fine, but I still need to kill someone.”

He grins. “My little dancing assassin.” He strokes my cheek, and my brows shoot up.

“Shit. Dancing. I completely forgot that I have dance class today,” I rasp, my brows shooting up.

How the hell did I forget about that?

“You’ll dance again soon, Dee. When you and Trav find a place to settle down, promise me you’ll find a new dance studio.”

Shit. Here I am, leaving him high and dry to deal with the chaos that’s yet to hit the Timber Valley region, and Jared is concerned about me dancing again.

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