Page 109 of Revenant

I snort, not trusting her an inch. She is so selfish, I doubt she understands how to do anything for someone else. I narrow my eyes, trying to guess what angle she’s working. “Help me with what?”

I can remove your father from your life, she says earnestly, taking a step toward me.If you put me into my body, I can use my skill of persuasion to make him forget that you even exist.

I’m struck mute by the possibility, but just for a second.

“Why?” I ask bluntly, not sure that I believe her.

The bitch doesn’t have an altruistic bone in her body…er, non-body?

Whatever.

Crystal glances away, looking over the endless miles of forest that create our backyard. Her throat works as she swallows hard, and her voice is hoarse when she speaks.Because I don’t want to end up like Hershamn.

A shudder passes through her, and she inches closer, as if I can protect her. She leans toward me, her voice nothing but a whisper.I saw something in the darkness. Ifeltit reaching for me. It’s…it’s…

She swallows hard, stark fear swirling in her eyes, and a tremor passes through her.I’m still alive, which means I can still change my fate, right?

When she reaches for me beseechingly, her hand passes through my arm, and we both grimace at the contact. She straightens, determination darkening her eyes, and she draws back her shoulders.If you give me a chance, I can make up for the things I did. I can have a different future.

Call me skeptical, but I still don’t trust her motives.

Girls like her spend their whole lives fucking people over.

An animal can’t change their spots overnight.

When I don’t immediately answer, a muscle jumps in her jaw, and she spits out one word that looks like it’s torn from her tattered soul.Please.

My resolve weakens, and I curse myself for being a naïve fool. Nan would say I was put on this world to help people, help spirits resolve their unfinished business.

Though I might hate it, Crystal is here because of me.

And if I’m honest with myself, the opportunity to rid myself of my father is too tempting to pass up. When I reluctantly give my consent, I expect Crystal to cheer, but she just nods solemnly…and disappears.

Now I just have to convince the guys not to murder her before we have a chance to enact my plan. By the time I slip back inside the room, Hicks is gone, and I rush through my shower. As I hurry down the stairs, my stomach swirls with excitement…and something even more dangerous?—

hope.

The guys fall silent when I enter the kitchen, the five of them looking at me without a smile, and my happy mood fades. “What happened?”

“News broke about the fire at the asylum,” Ellis tells me, his face impassive, and I know that’s not the worst of it.

“They listed the missing patients on the news site, and your name was included.” Hicks scowls, the lines of his face deepening, and my gut churns in dread.

Gunner’s chair groans under his weight as he shoves to his feet, and he stalks toward me, cupping my face gently. “You’re safe. I won’t let your father near you. I promise.”

I grab his hand and cling to his confidence, his nearness centering me when my mind tries to spin out of control.

“How?” Jameson snarls, flipping a blade end over end in his hand. When he glances at the rest of the guys, his pale blue eyes are dead. “We weren’t able to save her last time. The fucker stole her right out from under us, and we just stood there with our fingers up our asses.”

None of the guys look happy with his statement.

Because he’s not wrong.

I nibble on my bottom lip and hesitantly bring up my conversation with Crystal.

“No,” the twins say at the same time, both of them glaring at me.

“Absolutely fucking not,” Gunner snarls, pulling away from me to pace the room, each stomp of his feet shaking the floorboards.

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