Page 118 of Ravaged Saints

Max steps up beside him, his darkening gaze locked on me.

Are they going to fucking jump me?

“Reaper.” Dante sounds menacing from behind me, and he strides over like a bull, eyes locked on me, then drops his gaze, and I follow his eyes. My stomach turns. Aspen!

I didn’t even realize I was gripping her arm so hard that she was flinching, her skin already bruising and tears slipping down her face, her whole body locked tight.

Fuck.

I let go immediately, hands raised. “Pet, I didn’t mean to—I would never—”

She just nods, but I see it, the fucking fear, the same look she had the first day I saw her.

“Aspen.” I step closer.

“The back gate is open!”

Max’s yells from outside. I didn’t even realize he had left the room.

“What do you mean, open?” Dante is already moving, Ryker right behind him.

I stand frozen for a beat, my eyes locking on Aspen.

She looks at me—wide-eyed, breathing unevenly.

Fuck.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur, barely more than a breath, and I stride towards the gate.

By the time I reach it, the others are already scanning the area, but there’s nothing. No Bryn. No Ethan. Just open space and a pit forming in my stomach.

“We found this.” Ryker hands me a piece of paper. Our base is roughly drawn, but instead of our rooms, they are appointed as cells, prisons…

Dante stares at the paper. “That doesn’t look like Ethan’s writing—”

Fuck me!

“Let’s gear up.” I don’t have time for Dante’s shit to protect him.

He slams the gate shut, and I follow the guys back inside, but as we enter, I feel something’s wrong.

I scan the room, and it takes me a second to realize what’s missing.

“Where the fuck is Aspen?”

The guys freeze, faces pale, and a cold wave crashes through me.

No. No, she wouldn’t.

“Please tell me she didn’t—” I rush, not waiting for an answer, lungs burning as I sprint to the front gate.

Wide open.

“Fuck!” I snarl, fists clenching.

She’s out there. Alone.

“Recon!” My voice is sharp, cutting through the heavy air.