Page 85 of The Truths We Seek

I close my eyes as the plane descends, my hand in Hunter’s, clinging to him like a lifeline.

Who I am today might be leaps and bounds from the girl I was then, but that doesn’t mean this entire trip doesn’t have me twisted up.

Denton’s search came up inconclusive. There was a girl kidnapped around the area I lived in as a child, but without more details it’s kind of hard to confirm. We have no idea if I was supposedly taken from this area, or somewhere else. When it would’ve happened. Anything.

I probably should have asked Trent before I shot him, but that would’ve been another thing for him to hold over me and I don’t believe he’d have told me anyway.

So after realizing that we had too little information to really figure anything out, I told Meyer I wanted to go and see my parents. See if they would give me answers.

I’m aware it’s highly unlikely, my parents have never really given a fuck about me, but maybe, just maybe, they’ll actually not disappoint me for once in my life.

The plane bounces onto the runway and I swear every person on the plane expels a breath. The flight has been rocky at best.

“Never flying commercial again,” Hunter grumbles. Meyer wanted to send us on the jet, but it felt a little extravagant to fly that way when there are flights multiple times a day already in place across the country.

I giggle at him and roll my eyes as I release the death grip I have on his hand. “And here was me thinking I was the princess in this pair.”

“Oh you absolutely are, but this heathen has fine taste, and flying commercial isn’t something we’re doing again. Definitely not economy.” He fakes a shudder, making me laugh again. Thankfully, the third seat in our row is empty, so we had a bit more space, but that didn’t stop him complaining about the lack of legroom or his ass going numb.

He is definitely a princess.

“If you say so.” I remove my belt once the light goes off, and everyone jumps to their feet the minute the plane stops, starting to try and get their luggage, despite the fact that we’re probably going to be stuck here for at least another ten minutes. Not that I’ve flown commercially before. Hell, my time on the jet was my first time flying at all, but I’ve seen enough tv and movies to know that departing a plane takes forever.

“You ready for tomorrow?” he asks while I stare out of the window into the inky nothingness that is the dead of night outside.

I nod once, still staring out, mostly seeing my own reflection. “I think so. Seeing my parents isn’t something I thought I’d do again, but knowing the truth would be nice. I don’t have high hopes for them being honest, mind you. Do you think people might ask me about Trent?”

It’s the one thing that’s been playing on my mind since Hunter suggested this trip. Coming back here, to where the old version of me existed, seeing the people who knew me then... knowing they have no idea who Trent really is, that they might ask where I went or where he is…

“I don’t think so,” he tells me again. “I told you when you asked the first time that no one has been looking for him. There was a suspension on his file at the station, but it was mostly redacted. I don’t know what he got up to before he went looking for you, but whatever it was, I get the feeling his hero helmet was removed.”

Nodding, I chew the inside of my cheek as people finally start leaving the plane. He did already tell me that but it’s almost impossible to think that someone finally saw the truth about him. Maybe people won’t ask about him. Maybe I’ll manage to not see anyone who used to know me, or maybe I’ll hear what happened here for no one to be looking for him…

The plane is almost empty before Hunter stands and grabs our carry-on luggage. He takes my hand and leads me from the plane. We get through the airport quickly thanks to not having more bags, and before I’ve even really had a chance to look around, Hunter’s got us a cab and is ushering me into it.

The drive to the hotel takes just over an hour. It’s more of a motel, really, just on the outskirts of town. By the time we arrive, I’m exhausted. I let out a yawn as we open the door to our room, trying to stifle it because we still haven’t eaten.

“Food,” I tell him when he looks at me like he’s about to demand I sleep. “Then sleep.”

“Never would’ve thought I’d be telling you to sleep when I got you alone in a hotel room, but I guess stranger things could happen.” I laugh at him as he drops the two duffel bags onto the bed. “Where are we eating?”

“There’s a twenty-four-hour diner about a ten minute walk from here,” I tell him. “As long as it hasn’t closed down since I left.”

I yawn again and he looks a little concerned. “You’ve been really tired this last week, maybe you should start training and working out less. Sleeping more.”

“Pfft,” I hiss. “If I take it any easier I’ll be dead. It’s just been a long day. Apparently, flying takes it out of me.”

He quirks a brow at me, but seems to decide to drop it when my stomach grumbles. “Fine, food first, then sleep. I’ll play with you delightfully in the morning instead of tonight.”

I grin at him, reaching up on tiptoe and kissing his cheek. “Oh, such charming words you weave me. However will my heart cope with such adoration and wonder.” Heading out of the room, he swats my ass, laughing when I squeak at the contact.

“Oh, Angel, words aren’t the only ways this tongue can charm you. Just you wait.”

* * *

My hands shake as we pull up beside my childhood house. We picked up my old car from Trent’s garage earlier. The upside to his place having been in the middle of nowhere was no one seeing me arrive, use the key under the bush to get inside, or to watch me take my car and leave.

Upside, we have transportation.

---