Page 98 of Torment

“Yes.”

Rex glanced at the dead bodies on the floor. “It seems that a few spots on my crew just opened up. You interested?”

Colton quickly glanced from James to Scarlet. His eyes conveyed all his regret, and also the hardship he carried around with him. She knew that going with Rex was his only option, so she nodded slightly, showing him that she understood this was something he needed to do. This was what he had worked for all these years—a chance at finally finding his sister.

Colton walked up to stand next to Rex, showing everyone the decision he just made. Scarlet understood, and judging by the way James stared at Colton…so did he.

“Come on.” Hunter lifted her up and cradled her in his arms.

When he walked past Rex, he nodded his head. “Rex. Hope I have the pleasure of never seeing you again.”

Rex laughed. “So do I, Hunter. So do I.”

Scarlet put her arms around Hunter’s neck and nestled her face into his chest. She never wanted him to let go. Scarlet never wanted to experience what she went through when she thought he was dead. It was far worse than any kind of pain she had ever endured. And coming from her, that was saying a lot.

“I’m sorry, Ace.”

“For what?”

“For trying to push you away.”

He snorted. “And look, I’m still here.”

“Yeah.” She tightened her hold around his neck. “You are.”

Hunter carried her down the steps of the back porch, and hearing the rhythm of his heart beating inside his chest, and the soft lulling as he walked with her in his arms made her feel more relaxed than she had felt in years. It was the best place to be—Hunter’s arms.

Closing her eyes, she continued to listen to Hunter’s heartbeat when she felt them stop.

When she opened her eyes, he gently set her down and they were all looking at the barn in front of them.

“Hunter, what are you doing?”

He cupped her cheek in his palm. “I’m slaying one last demon for you, Scar.”

He walked closer to the barn, leaving her a few steps behind. James stepped up next to her and they both watched as Hunter lit a match, the flame burning between his fingers. Hunter flicked the match inside the barn, right onto a stack of hay, and Scarlet silently watched as the flames grew bigger and brighter, her demons slowly burning to nothing but ash.

Within seconds the hay lit completely on fire, and Hunter walked back to her. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the chain he had given Blue years ago—the chain that had weighed heavily on them both the last few days.

Hunter stared down at it, rubbing the silver trinket with his fingers. “I loved her, Scar. I really did, with all my heart.” He looked up at her with his emerald eyes. “But I love you more.”

And then he threw the chain into the burning barn.

It was him finally letting go—lettinghergo. After everything they had been through, Hunter was finally letting go of his regret, and Scarlet watched all her torment go down in flames.

While they stood there watching the yellows and oranges of the fire, they didn’t talk. There wasn’t anything to say really. They were finally able to let go of every bad thing that had happened to both of them.

At that moment, right there, Scarlet made the decision to let the haunting memories burn along with the barn where all her nightmares started. Never again would she let her past determine her future. Never again would she allow her pain to dictate her life, to control the way she lived…and the way she loved.

The old was gone—dead, burned, and destroyed. Nothing remained of her old life, and that was how she intended it to stay. What happened at Bella Vista during the last twenty-four hours would stay there and burn with the rest. The walls around her heart were shattered to nothing but dust, and from that moment on she would let herself feel hope, feel love, and dream of a future—with him.

Hunter stepped closer and slowly lowered his lips to hers, kissing her so tenderly, she didn’t know if it was a dream or really happening. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer against his hard body.

Yup, definitely happening.

When he pulled away, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth like he was savoring her taste, for the first time in her life Scarlet felt butterflies. Hundreds of butterflies were going completely apeshit in the pit of her stomach—and she loved it.

“Ah-hem.”

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