Page 7

He edged up right behind me.

His tattooed hands were stretched out and curled around the handlebars.

So rough and rugged.

Face hard and body fierce.

A sentry.

A guard.

An escort to my freedom.

And as I put the truck into drive and accelerated, I couldn’t help but feel I was ready.

Ready to embark on this new chapter in my life.

And I refused to be wary of Trevan doing it at my side.

THREE

TREVAN

“Can you believe this is mine?”

Elena’s shoulders tucked up to reach her ears as she looked back at me from the second step of the exterior stairs that led to her apartment.

There was no missing the thrill that rolled out of her.

She clutched a box to her chest while I was loaded down with two suitcases, an overnight bag, plus my own duffel.

Afternoon sun cut down through the thick woods that surrounded her small apartment complex, and you could hear the rush of the river that wound through the forest beyond the building.

Rays of that light kissed her pinked cheeks. She had these hazel eyes that most would say were the same color as Silas’s.

But I had always seen the differences. A kaleidoscope of browns that touched on every shade.

The sparks of joy that lit in the golden flecks that danced whenever that sweet exuberance came out. The warm greens that wrapped you in her belief whenever she got serious.

“Yeah, it’s about time you had this for yourself.”

It was true. Didn’t mean it was easy for me to accept that she’d be living outside the compound walls.

“I still can’t believe I actually talked Silas into it.” Bemused, she shook her head as she turned and started back up the steps.

“It’s not like you’re a little kid anymore,” I mumbled as I followed.

Elena huffed, though it was soft. “That’s funny, considering you all like to think of me that way.”

I wished I did. Wished I could school my perception into her being that same adorable child she used to be. My best friend’s little sister who had followed us everywhere.

Before all of our lives had been torn by trauma.

She was a woman now, though. Had been for a long time. Didn’t matter if we wanted to deny it.

“Everyone just worries about you,” I said.

She peeked back at me again. Those flecks of gold twinkled like stars.