Page 66 of Released

* * *

The drive to Utah is mostly silent. As much as I want to talk to Ryan, to find out more about his mercenary jobs, I just can’t bring myself to make conversation. My soul aches so damn bad, like pieces are missing, and there’s a heavy weight on my chest, as if I’ll never be able to take a full breath again.

Ryan must sense my reluctance because he just puts some classical music on the radio and drives, leaving me to be lulled into a restless sleep full of broken hearts and dark shadows.

I wake as we pull up in front of a wooden cabin surrounded by forest, the predawn light fading from a deep purple to orange on the horizon behind it.

“Let’s get you settled, Little One,” Ryan suggests softly, switching the engine off and opening the door.

Taking a deep inhale, I follow, breathing in the fresh, damp air as I exit the vehicle. Looking up at the wooden structure, it reminds me of the hunting cabin that the guys took me to on Halloween, and I pause as I wonder if that’s the cabin that they’ll be going to in a few weeks. Seems fitting that the place we took revenge on Robert all those months ago will see justice served once more.

This, too, is double-storied, and as I walk inside, I notice that it has a much more homely feel, with cosy sofas covered in blankets facing a huge fireplace. Unlike the guys’ cabin, there are no dead animals on the walls, which I am grateful for.

“Lilly, come look at this,” Ryan’s voice calls from the other end of the room, and I turn, gasping as I see that the entire wall is windows, letting the rising sun filter into the space.

Walking over to where Ryan stands by some open bi-folding doors, I can see there’s a deck, and we have an uninterrupted view over the mountains and the valley below, all bathed in the beautiful dawn. Birds are singing, and tears spring to my eyes with the majesty of it all.

“There’s always a new day, Little One,” Ryan says softly from beside me, his big arm wrapping around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.

“Mum used to say that.” I sniffle, breathing in his familiar scent and letting it comfort me, even as my heart fractures at being so far from my soulmates.

“She was a wise woman, your mum,” he replies, his own voice a little thicker than usual.

I wrap my arm around his waist in a side hug, and we stay that way, watching the sunrise and letting its rays fill us with light, chasing away the darkness.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

LILLY

Isleep in late, waking up alone and bereft as I remember all that has happened in the last day or so. Ryan faking my death, those wonderful few hours in the apartment, the drive to the cabin.

My stomach growls just as the scent of bacon fills my nose, and I can hear low voices downstairs which confuses me until I remember who is coming to stay with me. With more energy than I thought I possessed, I throw back the covers and clamber out of bed, not stopping to cover my maternity vest and knickers as I rush from the room and down the wooden staircase.

“Mai!” I shout when I see her blonde hair at the dining table.

A huge smile splits her face as she stands up and hurries over to wrap me up in a tight hug.

“Lilly! It’s so good to see you, girl,” she tells me, laughing when my bump gets in the way. “Look at you!” She steps back and holds me at arm’s length to admire my pretty big stomach. “You are positively glowing.”

I blush, then shriek when twin blond heads poke around the French doors from the deck, wide grins on their faces.

“Roman! Rowan!”

I launch myself at them, both wrapping their arms around me in a hug.

“Jeez, pixie girl. You need to hold off on all those pies,” Roman jokes, earning a poke from Mai.

“Fuck off,” I tell him with a smile, all of us laughing when my stomach lets out a huge growl.

“Sounds like someone is hungry,” Ryan says from the doorway, carrying two huge platters full of crispy bacon, fried eggs, and toast.

“Fuck, yes,” I groan, practically attacking him in my bid to get to the deliciousness.

He chuckles as I pile my plate high, pouring myself a huge glass of tropical juice that was already on the table.

The others join us, filling their own plates, and we each take a seat, catching up on everything that has happened since we last saw each other.

“And I thought our lives were fucked up,” Rowan comments, softening his words with a boyish smile.

---