Page 69 of Hellfire

I nodded in his tender hold and set my hands on his elbows. “I’m just used to sticking up for myself. It’s always been me against the world. When not on missions, no one had my back except me.”

“Things are different now,” Ayve murmured. “It’susagainst the world. You and me. We’re each other’s forever team. No matter what. Always.”

His lips brushed over mine, and I let my eyelids fall closed. I surrendered to him. To myself, but most importantly, I acknowledged those truths as best I could.

On a deep inhale, Avery pulled away and slowly released my face. He offered a tight but kind smile, then took my hand. “C’mon, Hells, lets head back.”

I held my ground and tugged until he shot a questioning glance over his shoulder. “What’s up?”

“I feel like I could push out to ten miles today,” I replied, feeling infinitely stronger now that the outburst had purged the weight from my chest.

A genuine smile pulled his mouth wide, and his eyes danced with pride. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I needed that reality check.”

He pulled me into an engulfing hug. “In order to move forward, we all must break a little first,” he murmured, then kissed my head.

“I just hope I don’t have to break too much further.”

“You won’t, Hells. I’m sure of it.”

We let each other go and set off on the extra four-mile trail that looped back to this point. It passed with a whole lot of cursing, burning legs, and encouragement from Ayve, and when we finally jogged to a stop in his driveway to stretch out, I felt a monumental shift take place within me.

While holding a hamstring stretch, I watched Avery stretch against the side of the house.

“I can do this.”

He eyed me from over his extended arm. “Stretch?”

I scoffed. “Yes, but that wasn’t what I meant. I mean, I can fucking do this.”I waved an arm around. “Not let this beat me.”

He stood, giving me his full attention. “I know you can.”

“Thank you for pushing me.”

An adoring smile broke out. “Just helping you along until you can do it for yourself again.”

I followed him inside the house and drank down water while he checked his phone. He tsked and frowned at the screen.

“What’s up?”

Ayve’s eyebrows remained knitted. “Missed call from a private number. Claire hasn’t tried to call you, has she?”

I hummed and crossed the room to my phone. “Nope. Does she check up on me?”

His eyes lifted to meet mine. “No, not since you went AWOL after Mexico.”

I felt my lips purse. Mexico was still a tender topic.

Avery tried to re-lighten the mood. “Go start the shower, Hells. I’ll grab a drink then meet you in there.”

I plucked at my top. “Take your time—I’m looking forward to a soak without you hogging the water.”

His brows shot high. “You’rethe water hog!”

“We’ll agree to disagree.”

“We’re not agreeing to shit, Hellcat!” he called to my departing back.

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