Page 319 of Redeemed

“Let’s go, little fawn,” Lucas says. He tugs me up the stairs.

I stop on the top step, looking back one last time at the black smoke billowing from the church, such a sharp contrast to the blue springtime sky.

It’s over. No one will chase me—not after this.

I’m finally free from Cornerstone’s suffocating grip.

Lucas

IhoistHavenintoone of the Glass Rooks’ armored vans and crawl in after her. I’ll only feel like she’s fully safe once she’s locked inside with all of us guarding her.

“Luc,” Haven whispers shakily as everyone else piles in.

Tears have been streaming down her face since I pulled her into the parsonage. I can’t imagine the pain I’d feel if I left my sister in a place like Cornerstone.

Getting myself situated with my back to the side of the van, I pull her into my lap. “You’re safe. I promise you, you’re safe now.”

“But Jeremiah,” she sobs. “And Ruth, and my little brothers and sisters, and—and—”

“They’re gonna be okay,” I tell her. “Jeremiah can hold his own, and he’ll keep your siblings safe.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t want them to have to stay there.”

Colton scoots toward us as Kellan starts the van and gets moving. Xander follows suit until we’re surrounding her. Once she realizes it, I feel her relax against me, but she’s still crying.

Placing a hand on her leg, Colton says, “Angel, right now, we need to focus on you.”

“W-why?”

“Because you’re bleeding,” I tell her.

“I—oh.” Haven’s voice gets small and quiet. “I forgot.”

Cal shoves his way in between Colton and Xander, a large first aid kit in tow. I forgot he’s pre-med, but a swift glance at Colton tells me that he didn’t. There was more than one reason he wanted these three here with us today.

Gently, Cal inspects the bottoms of Haven’s feet. “Did they not give you shoes or something?”

“I… didn’t have time to put them on,” she says, sniffling. “My dad—I had to—”

“Shh, it’s okay,” Xander says softly. “He can’t get to you now.”

With a whimper, Haven buries her face in my chest. She stays like that while Cal gently cleans the dozens of cuts on the soles of her feet. Once they’re bandaged up, he leans back.

“I’ll give you instructions on how to take care of the wounds later. For right now, just try to keep her off her feet as much as possible.”

I nod. “We can manage that.”

“Thank you,” Haven says quietly.

Cal winks at her. “Pretty sure Athelia would cut my dick off if I didn’t fix you up.”

That makes her giggle, and my heart skip a beat. It’s only been a couple days, but I was so terrified I’d never hear that sound again. As I press my face into Haven’s hair, she nuzzles her face against my chest. I wish I still didn’t have my bulletproof vest on, dammit. I want her as close to me as possible.

Cal shoves his first aid kit toward the front of the vehicle and leans against the opposite side of the van. “Aside from almost dying, that was kinda fun, huh?”

Xander grins. “I’ve always wanted to burn a church down.”

That pulls a laugh from Cal. “Gotta be honest, the thought of doing so has never crossed my mind, but we did a damn good job anyway.”

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