Page 45 of They Will Fall

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate your help.” I look at his wife. “Both of you. Really. You’ve been so gracious and kind.”

“You’re welcome, young lady.”

As my adrenaline begins to fade, my eyes start to grow heavy and the aches in my body begin to set in.

At the time, I forced myself not to think about the pain or discomfort of walking miles through the woods, on a gravel road with no shoes, but the pain starts to set in as I notice blood marking this kind couple’s hardwood floors.

"I'm so sorry, do you have anything I can wipe this up with?" I ask in a panic, feeling so rude for barging in here and not taking the time to consider the dirt and blood being tracked in through their cozy home.

"Oh, don't worry about it, dear," the sweet old man says as he grabs a towel and some cleaning spray. "My love, why don't you grab our guest a towel and show her to the bathroom so she can wash her feet?" He studies the cuts and scrapes on my flesh before he adds, "I'll drop the first aid kit off by the door for you. You don't need an infection after everything you've been through."

I nearly choke on a sob. "Thank you," I say as tears stream down my face. "You're so kind."

I wipe the tears from my face as the lady walks me to the bathroom and hands me a towel. Before she leaves, her hand rests over mine for a moment. "Sometimes the hardest cards are dealt to those with the strongest minds.” She pats my hand before walking out and closing the door.

I take the time to clean everything and apply ointment and bandages where necessary, and I take a few of the painkillers inside the first aid kit. I'm sure Scar and her boys will be here soon.

As I walk back into the room and take a seat, I'm greeted with more cookies and milk as well as a blanket, and I curl up in my spot to dig in.

All I can do now is sit back and fill my belly while I wait for my ride out of here. Definitely not the worst predicament I’ve found myself in since the alert went out.

CHAPTER14

LEV

“Take a left at the next road,”Ridge instructs me, and I scowl at his directions.

“I know where he lives, dumbass.”

“I know. But you were different the last time we were here. Wasn’t sure if you forgot.”

My head shakes in annoyance. “My personality might have been different, but my memory isn’t lost.”

You know the reaction you get when you mix gasoline with fire? An explosion, right? Well, that’s pretty much what driving in a car with Ridge for two hours is like. At least, that’s how my fucking head feels right now.

Two hours of nonstop talking, and the most ridiculous shit at that.

An hour ago, he shifted the subject to vampires and how he wishes he was one so he could turn Riley and live eternally with her. The guy is in love, but he’s also grossly obsessed.

“You’re sure she’s okay?” I ask, referring to Riley now that my mind has shifted back to her. It happens so often. Lately, I find myself thinking about her all the time. I know she’s angry with me. I know I have a lot of explaining to do. And I will. In time.

“Maddox said Scar gave him her coordinates and he’s on his way to her. They should meet us at his house by sunrise.

It’s two o’clock in the morning and we’re driving back to our hometown because Ridge is convinced that’s where we need to be. The lockdown still hasn’t been lifted, and there’s no saying when classes will resume now that there was another murder on campus. The search for Riley is still ongoing, and it’s safe to say the moment it’s suspected we’re with her, we’ll be added to the wanted list.

Ridge and I have no idea where Riley and Maddox have been, or what they’ve been doing. He said he’ll fill us in when they get here. I just wish I could see her once she arrives. Ridge and I both agreed it's best if I stay at the apartment downtown while they all crash at Maddox’s house. His parents are out of town right now—his dad in Boulder Cove with all the other asshole Elders, and his mom in Aruba. It really doesn’t matter to me where I stay. Every place is the same in this town. It’s depressing as shit and I hate being here. It’s probably best if I’m alone because I’ll drag everyone down with my ‘sourpuss attitude,’ as Ridge likes to call it.

The second we pull into Maddox’s driveway, I slam the car into park and swing the door open. Curled over, I gasp for air.Ridge just ripped a big one and stunk up the whole fucking car. The stench follows me, burning my nostrils. I wave my hand in front of my face. “You’re disgusting, man.”

He closes the door and rests his arms on the top of the car. “You’re lucky I waited until we pulled into the driveway. I’ve been holding that shit for ten minutes.”

“And you couldn’t hold it for thirty more seconds until I got out?” I flick the latch of the trunk and circle the car to get Ridge's bag out.

“Don’t you know it’s not good to hold that shit in?” He’s at my side now, so I shove his bag to his chest and he lets out a forceful grunt, catching it before it falls.

“You’re a damn idiot.” I heave a sigh as I close the trunk and walk up the cobblestone path to Maddox's house.

We drag our feet because we’re both tired as shit. I catch the camera on the side of the house and nod my head toward it. “Maddox said he shut those off?”

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