Page 22 of Ravaged Saints

My legs start shaking. My heart pounds in my ears, and my fingers move harder and faster, my back arching away from the wall, and my head snaps back as pleasure crashes over me like a wave.

I stifle the loud moan threatening to escape by biting down on my lip.

When the high fades, I turn and press my forehead against the cold tiles, my breathing ragged, mind racing, and for one fleeting moment, I consider staying, but then I remember Cash. How charming and kind he seemed at first, how he made me feel safe when my family and I first arrived, and how quickly that mask dropped when I was left alone.

The memories claw at me, and tears sting the corners of my eyes.

No. I’m done crying. I’ll get out of here. I’ll keep going, just like I always have.

I wash myself thoroughly and even shave, something I haven’t done in three years. When I’m done, I dry off, put on the cargo pants, the snug green t-shirt, and one of the coats left behind.

Back in the bedroom, Bryn is sitting on the mattress, her knees drawn to her chest, and I sit next to her, trying one last time to take her with me.

“Are you sure you want to stay?” I ask quietly.

“Yes, I can’t be out there, Aspen. I just can’t,” she responds immediately. “And are you sure about leaving?”

I nod, leaning to hug her. “I’ll miss you, Bryn.” I hid my face in her neck, and a tear fell. “Please be careful.”

She sniffles against my shoulder, her arms tightening around me.

Standing up, I pick up my bag; my gun and knife are gone. Knox took them when we got here, but I’ll manage like always.

I need to find a way to leave this damn place, so I head upstairs, leaving my bag behind the door.

It’s getting late. The sun has already set.

Looking around, I see Max and Ryker are still downstairs, Dante and Knox are talking by the kitchen counter, and Ethan is reading a book on the couch.

“I’m going to feed the animals and get the eggs,” Dante says, grabbing a bag from one of the cabinets.

“I’ll be right there,” Knox replies, heading toward the door that leads to the basement.

No one pays attention to me. Everyone is still lost in their own thoughts after what happened, and I follow as Dante leaves the door to the base open, so I head outside and see Dante punching in the code at the back gate.

He’s going to feed the animals he talked about earlier, and he left the gate open, probably for Knox. This is my chance!

I grab my bag, sneaking through the door and making sure Ethan doesn’t see me.

Outside, I see Dante opening the back gate. and he also leaves it open. It’s my only opportunity, and I take it.

The darkness is thick as I step outside, so I move slowly, using the night and the bushes near the gate to hide. Step by step, I reach the trees, and then I start running.

I can’t see much, but I don’t care. I follow the faint path on the ground before darting to the left, where I think the river should be.

I don’t hear any noise behind me; they don’t notice I’m gone. I speed up, and the pain from my ankle shoots through me like a dagger piercing my skin, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.

Knox

“Animals are fed,” Dante says, as we both come in just as Max and Ryker come up the stairs.

Ethan looks at us, and Max leans in, his expression softening as he reaches his hand out. “Sorry, brother.” His tone is sincere, his eyes locked with Ethan’s.

Ethan’s lips curl into a small smile as he takes Max’s hand, the tension easing between them.

“No problem, Max.” Ethan claps on Max’s shoulder.

Let’s hope things calm down now…

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