Page 68 of Hellbent
“You need to be at Ryder’s house by noon.”
Not a question. And before I can answer, he’s already striding past me, out the bay doors.
Through the row of windows, I watch him climb into Damian’s truck, throw it into gear, and drive off.
A beat of silence. Then Damian lets out a slow, incredulous breath. “That’s my fucking truck.”
I huff out a humorless laugh, turning to him. “How am I supposed to get to the house?”
“Guess he really wanted to make sure you got the full experience. What a fucking asshole.”
“I have to walk?”
Damian rolls his eyes, looking annoyed. “I’ll come with you.”
I want to say yes. Having Damian there would make this easier. He’s on my side. He’s as “guilty” as I am. But there’s a reason Wyatt wants me to go alone. If Ryder wanted both of us, Wyatt would’ve said so. And I don’t want to risk making him any angrier than I already have.
Besides, it was fighting for myself that got me here. Fighting for myself that got me out of the senator’s car. If I can’t face this alone, then I haven’t learned a thing.
I shake my head. “No. I’ll go alone.”
Damian frowns. “Finch—”
“If he wanted both of us, he would’ve said so.” I wave a hand, dismissive. “Whatever they have to say, I’m not afraid.”
For the first time, a shadow of worry flickers across his face.
“If they wanna kick you out or whatever, fuck that.” His jaw tightens. “Jake and I have a house. You’ll just stay with us.”
I don’t think it works that way in this little community they’ve built, but I smile reassuringly anyway. “I’ll be fine.”
Damian holds my gaze for a long second and then sighs, tipping his head toward the door in resignation. “Better get going then. That’s a three-mile walk. It’ll take you a little while.”
I have the sudden urge to stand on my toes and kiss him. Instead, I press my lips together, give him a small shrug, and grab my coat.
The dirt road stretches long and empty ahead of me. It’s April, but the chill still lingers, biting at my cheeks, nipping at my fingers. I tighten Ryder’s parka around myself against the wind and think about what I’ll need if I have to leave.
A coat, first of all. I can’t keep this one.
I have some money saved up, even after buying clothes and contributing to meals. Just cash sitting in an envelope. I’d have to open a bank account, integrate into the normal world. But I could do it.
I’ve been starting over since I was first taken away from my mother at age six. It’s never been easy, but it’s something I know I can do.
So this? This is nothing.
I should’ve known better. I should’ve known it couldn’t last. Nothing ever does.
I let myself get comfortable. That was the mistake.
I let myself fall too fast and too deep. I let myself believe that I could keep them. That I had a place with them.
Jake and Damian. The way I let them pull me in…I should know better than to trust that kind of devotion. Know better than to think it could mean something. It hurts now, but eventually it would’ve ended anyway. Ryder and Wyatt are doing me a favor by pulling the Band-Aid off, by reminding me of my place in the world. Reminding me that I need to be strong.
Wyatt. I was a fool to let myself believe he was someone who cared. My idiocy makes heat flame over my cheeks.
And Ryder. Ryder I’ve been a fool about since day one. I spent too much time trying to read between the lines, waiting for something that was never going to come.
I should’ve been smarter. Should’ve remembered how this always ends.
