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Muscles bunched and ready. His blood a mix of mercury and lead.

He rode us all the way to the back of the property where the simple house came into view.

A two-story with an elevated porch out front. A ton of pots with flowers with three wooden rocking chairs waiting in welcome.

The place was so at odds with the rest of the compound it felt like you must have gotten lost.

Warm and inviting while the other pieces promised death.

To the left of the house, about three hundred yards away, was a smaller house. A one-bedroom that was assigned to Trevan since he was the second in command.

I wondered if he missed it. If he couldn’t wait to return.

He came to a stop in front of the main house, and he planted his boots on the damp grass to support the bike. The powerful engine still rumbled beneath us.

“Off you go, Little Apple.”

My chest squeezed, and I worked through the straps on my helmet and was quick to swing off.

My heart took it upon itself to lodge in my throat as I turned to look at him.

So ferocious and mean in that setting. Massive and powerful as he straddled the blacked-out metal.

But those eyes…

“Please, be careful.” I choked it.

“Always am,” he said.

I didn’t have time to say anything else before the house’s door burst open and Brinley’s voice rose over the grumble of Trevan’s motorcycle.

“It’s about time you showed that adorable ass up here.”

I spun, fighting the emotion that wobbled in my chest. “What, did you miss me?”

“Um, hello! It’s boring as hell around here without you. I can’t believe you went off and left me,” Brinley shouted. Her face was full of a tease.

A smile fluttered at the edge of my mouth. “It’s only been two days.”

“Two days of torture.” She was all grins, though there was something in her eyes that spoke of the same dread that I felt.

Trevan revved his bike, and I turned back to look at him.

Tattooed hands gripped the handlebars. Never resting, they clutched and released.

Features so dark and brimming with disorder.

A vicious warrior preparing to ride into battle.

“I’ll see you later.” Maybe voicing it would make it true.

Manifest their safety.

“Don’t wait up,” he grunted low.

I wanted to ask for details. Where they were going and exactly when they’d be back, but that was information I was rarely granted.

So instead, I watched him shift his bike around, hand pulling back on the throttle before he took back off down the narrow dirt lane and disappeared into the thick copse of trees.