Page 12 of Ronan

We step into a large building in the center of town, winding through a long hallway with worn linoleum floors. Our quiet stampede of footfalls echo through the silent building as Taryn enters an office, sitting behind the desk and gesturing for us to take the chairs across from her. I sit, Boomerang remaining at attention beside my feet, and August sinks into the seat beside mine with a very ungraceful thud.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Mr. Cameron, because you don’t strike me as a man who entertains idle chatter.” My eyebrows lift at the assessment, and I nod, granting permission for her to continue. “I’ve been told there was a misunderstanding last night involving Bruce and Raven.”

“A misunderstanding?” I repeat, gesturing at the bandage on my forehead. “Is that what you call assault and kidnapping these days? It’s an awfully pretty way to paint attempted murder.”

A sharp click of her tongue punctuates the silence as her eyes rake over me, assessing. Maybe a little judging. “That might be a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

“A bit of a stretch?” My voice climbs as my temper flares, fed up with everyone in this camp trying to downplay what was done to me. “Astretch!? Let me just go over the details of what happened, in case you’ve missed some of them.” Two of my fingers drop onto her desk, miming awalking motion. “Here’s me, and… oh, look! I’m minding my own godsdamned business when…” I gasp dramatically. “What’s that in the distance? Gee, it’s another rebel camp! Let’s see, Cameron, what does one do when they spot a rebel camp?”

I pretend to think for a second before holding a finger up. “Ah, that’s right! I walk the other fucking direction because they’re all batshit crazy!” Taryn glares at me through narrow eyes as my fingers go back to the desk, walking across the surface. I’m being an ass, but the frustration of the past twenty-four hours is catching up to me.

“So here I am, waiting until it’s dark so I can walk away unnoticed, when… uh-oh! A Jeep and a dirt bike chase me and stop me from leaving. They pull a fucking gun on my dog for trying to protect me before pointing it right at my head. Then…then!” Both August and Taryn jolt when I slam my palm onto the desktop. “My forehead was smashed with what felt like an aluminum baseball bat, and if the scratches on my back and arms tell me anything, my unconscious body was dragged over the rocky ground. And if that wasn’t fucking enough, I was hauled to your little camp and tossed in a tiny room with a filthy bucket to piss in.”

I lean in, elbows on her desk, my eyes locked on her bright green ones. “Does that assessment sound accurate to you, Taryn, or am I forgetting part of ourmisunderstanding?”

Silence stretches between us, broken only by the huff of her furious breathing as she battles her temper. “What do you want, Mr. Cameron?”

An indignant scoff blows from my nostrils, and my voice gets louder with each word until it’s just on this side of a shout. “I want toleave.”

“Some members of our community are concerned about our exposure if we release you back into the world. You’ve been inside the camp and seen the way things work around here.”

“A camp I never would’ve seen if you hadn’t kidnapped me,” I point out, and she purses her lips. “Why does everyone keep leaving out that detail? It’s pretty fucking significant.”

“You knew our location before we ever brought you inside.”

“Listen, Taryn, no offense, but I’m going to level with you here. Anyone with a set of eyes that’s been within ten miles of here has seen your camp. You think the monsters don’t realize where you are? They have the military and technology on their side. Surveillance everywhere. I guaran-damn-tee you that if they wanted something from you, they’d already be knocking on your gates demanding entry. A single man minding his own business isn’t bringing attention to your door, but you know what is? Attacking people. Kidnapping them.”

The truth of my statement registers as her frown pulls even tighter. A sudden, violent crash outside interrupts her argument, jarring us all and causing Boomerang to leap up, a low growl rumbling in her chest as her lips curl back.

“Stay here,” Taryn commands as she charges out the door, and I can tell she’s used to others heeding her orders.

Yeah, that’ll happen.

There are rare moments in life when opportunity presents itself, wrapped in a neat little bow, and I’ve never been one to ignore such clear signs of fate. I turn to August as the realization dawns on his face. “You wouldn’t…”

“Sorry, man,” I say as I leap to my feet, snapping for Boomerang to follow. “You seem like a great guy, but you gotta understand…”

His mouth sags open as I shrug again. “Cam… Cameron!” he shouts, gathering his wits as I offer him one last apologetic smile before darting out the door. Boomerang pads quietly by my side as we navigate through the hallways that brought us to Taryn’s office. The double front doors are closed, and I crouch as I listen, trying to make sense of the commotion.

A sea of frantic voices and the rhythmic pounding of countless feet tell me I’m in the wrong place, and a high-pitched shriek confirms that assessment.

These aren’t my people—they’re my captors.

This isn’t my fight, and it’s time for me to make my escape.

A building this size should have at least one more exit, and as I decide which way to run, I hear August’s shouts echoing down the hallway. He might as well hang a bullseye on his back and paint another on his forehead.

Gods, the pretty ones are always so dense.

Cursing under my breath, I head towards the back of the building, where I spot another exterior door. It’s solid metal with no windows, but when I put my ear to the door and listen, it’s silent on the other side. My eyes squint against the neon sun as I push it open a crack, letting my vision adjust as I peek through. August’s voice has loweredto a hiss, but I can’t track his position inside the unfamiliar building.

Guilt makes me hesitate, not wanting to abandon him after he helped me. His kindness is a rare thing in this world, but self-preservation has to take priority. And hedidleave me locked up in a cell. At least he’s free to move around, not trapped like a stuck pig, waiting on the fire to get hot.

He had his chance to release me, and he didn’t take it.

Choking down the last bit of regret, I turn my attention to what’s happening outside. The seconds tick by with no signs of movement, and I click my tongue in warning to Boomerang before pushing the door open, squeezing through the narrow gap.

Frantic voices come from every direction, with no way to tell friend from foe, so I crouch low and duck behind the hedges. My knees sink into the soft soil, dampness absorbing into my jeans as I wait. Branches jab into my arms as I peek through the leaves, my eyes landing on a dumpster twenty yards away.

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