Page 118 of The Ashes of Summer

Love.

Contentment.

Desire.

Possessiveness.

All twisting together until I genuinely don't know how to contain any of it.

Summer leans closer carefully, pressing her forehead against mine. And for a few seconds the entire room disappears.

No Jackson.

No Ridge.

No blood.

Just us breathing each other in like we're trying to recover pieces of ourselves.

Then after a long silence, she whispers softly⁠—

"Do you know what happened to Harris?"

My brow furrows slightly. "Harris?"

"The butler," she says quietly. "He slipped me a note to say you were coming."

I shake my head slowly. "I saw him at Vale's place. After the ‘copter⁠—"

Just thinking about that fucking helicopter makes rage twist sharply through me again. I remember standing on that lawn watching it disappear into the dark with her trapped inside.

Helpless.

I never want to feel that powerless again for the rest of my life.

"He told me where you'd be," I say quietly, running my fingers through her dark hair slowly.

The brunette strands still feel wrong. But I don't let my face show it.

"It took me a while to figure out how to get inside," I continue. "Had to wait for the cunt in a coma to wake up."

Summer's expression tightens immediately. "Kurt."

Hatred slices through me so violently it takes a second to answer. "Yeah."

The room falls quiet again briefly, but I can't help noticing the way Summer works her lower lip. I know he betrayed her. I know he gave her an idea of a life without me when he held her in his arms. And so help me God, I wish I'd had time to drag the motherfucker's death out longer.

I expect her to question me about him, but the resolve in her eyes tells me she's not ready. I open my mouth to speak, to tell her that the son of a bitch met his maker under the heel of my boot, but then she changes the subject.

"Why'd Harris help you?" she asks softly. "Did you scare him or something?"

A humorless laugh leaves me. "No."

I lean my head back carefully against the bed.

"His daughter's tied into Moore's network."

But Summer doesn't react like this news is new to her.