Page 220 of Jaded Soul (Kovalyov Bratva 3)

I don’t even see him move, but the door unlocks.

As soon as it does, I’m out like a bullet, running away from the car and into the ocean of grass.

I hear Cillian swear from behind me, but I don’t slow down. I keep running until my lungs feel like they’re going to burst right out of my chest.

I run and run and run.

Like I can escape this fucked-up dream-turned-nightmare-turned-dream.

I only fall to my knees when I can’t run anymore.

The grass feels soft and comforting underneath my touch. I clench my fists and pull up tufts in each hand. Loose blades just sift through my fingers, falling off like fine dust, unwilling to be tied to anyone.

“Is there a reason you’re running from me like I’m the enemy?”

I look up at Cillian.

He’s run over here, too, but unlike me, he hasn’t broken a sweat. He doesn’t even look tired.

I fall back against the grass with my face to the dark, starlit sky.

He takes a step forward and looks down at me. His face outlined against the Irish heavens.

He’s gotta be a dream.

He’s too perfect.

I’m too broken.

“Are you real?” I ask in a delicate whisper.

He smiles. It’s like the sun has come out in the middle of the night.

“Take my hand,” he says, stretching it down towards me, “and find out.”

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