Page 128 of Debt of My Soul

It’s the first time I’ve seen Darrin in a week and the tension is tangible. Although it’s not vengeful like Blitz or comical like Trip. No, this is a low simmer of betrayal stewing between us.

I slide the metal chair out and turn it around to sit backward, casual. I’m letting him know his presence doesn’t affect me.

Darrin snickers. “You know, I always knew there was something off about you. Guess if it had to be anyone, it’d be you.”

I don’t respond. Instead, I say, “We need information on the other kingpins in the network under the Cartel’s thumb. Oh, and as a bonus, you could throw in what you know about Raven.”

The smile leaves Darrin’s face slowly, and he sits back, tipping his chin up.

Silence stretches in the room.

After three minutes, he says, “You authorized to make deals?”

I shrug. “Perhaps.”

Pretty sure I’m not, but I’m going to run with this.

“I’ll give you all the information I know, on one condition. I want unlimited visitation and correspondence with one person while I’m incarcerated.”

I blink, confused. That’s definitely not what I thought he’d say.

“Okay.” I take my small notepad out of my back pocket and click my pen. “Who is it?”

“River.”

Yeah, that’snotwhat I thought he’d say.

It’s heaven being back on my bike.

After two excruciating weeks, I was finally cleared to leave with a week’s worth of vacation. There was zero hesitation. I jumped on my bike and flew down the highway for Ruin.

Three hours later, I turn down the street of the bed-and-breakfast.

Last week tipped us into November and the thought of Thanksgiving outside the compound with my grandparents—hell, even my parents—is a welcomed thought.

The grand oaks in front have shaken half of their leaves and when I pull up the driveway, my grandfather is raking said leaves into two piles.

He squints at the bike, taking his work gloves off and tucking them back in his pocket. When I lift the helmet off my head, he breaks into a grin, slapping his hand on his thigh.

“Thought you’d never get out of there,” he yells as I jog toward him.

Arms stretched wide, I wrap him in a huge hug, a prickling sensation hitting me behind my eyes. The burden of the compound and my mission from the past four-plus years is lifted and I’m lighter, grounded.

Fleur.

She’s all I’ve thought about since the raid. The look on her face getting into the SUV, the way her nose scrunched as if she was holding back tears of hurt. Fixing it is my first task.

I pull away from my grandfather, starting toward the house. “I gotta find Fleur,” I say.

A hand wraps around my wrist, and my grandfather stops me.

“She’s not here, Son.”

I tilt my head, not sure I heard him right. “What do you mean?” She may be out with my grandmother or River. Maybe they went shopping or she’s hanging with River at Double Lucky’s.

“She went back home about a week and half ago.”

Shaking my head, I step back and run a hand through my tangled hair.

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