Page 68 of Sinful

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Someone whistles—one of the Raiders, probably.

Helle pulls back, breathing hard, eyes wild.

"Don't you ever follow me like that again," she says.

"Don't you ever run off to die alone again," I counter.

"I mean it."

"So do I."

We're staring at each other, faces inches apart, both of us covered in blood that isn't ours.

"Helle!" Elfe's voice cuts through. "We need to go! Now!"

Helle blinks, like she's just remembering where we are. What just happened.

She pulls away from me, climbs into the truck bed beside her father.

Elfe appears, looks at me, then at Helle, then back at me.

Something like understanding crosses her face. "Thank you," she says quietly. "For bringing her back."

Then she's climbing in too, and the truck is moving, kicking up gravel and dust as it speeds back toward the compound.

I stand there watching the taillights disappear.

My lips still taste like her.

My hands still remember the shape of her waist.

Runes appears beside me. "You want to tell me what the fuck happened in there?"

"Eight Los Coyotes. All dead. Ivar's alive but in bad shape. We need to move fast—clean this place, burn it if we have to. No evidence, no witnesses."

"Already on it." He's studying my face. "You okay?"

"Fine."

"You don't look fine. You look like you just went through hell."

"Maybe I did."

He watches me for another moment, then nods. "Let's get this cleaned up and get out of here. Local cops will show up eventually, and we don't want to be here when they do."

A prospect or someone rides Helle’s bike back, I don’t pay enough attention.

The ride back takes an hour.

I follow the convoy—Runes and Fenrir leading, other members fanned out around the truck carrying Ivar, me bringing up the rear.

The adrenaline is crashing now, leaving me hollow and shaking.

I killed four men tonight. Maybe five. I lost count.

Did it without hesitation.

Did it to save her.

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