Page 109 of Bones

“The preachy hypocrisy. I can’t listen to it again.” Denny finally stomped forward and paused with her hand outstretched. Waiting.

“I don’t have Lennon’s truth lasso skills, but I don’t think we’re getting anything out of this guy anyway. He’s too far gone.” Juno dipped her head. “Have at it.”

“Any last words?” Denny asked.

“Burn in?—”

“Hell. Yes, we know.” She ducked down so her face was level with him. “This gives me great pleasure to inform you that the soulless don’t go to Heaven. Or Hell. You will just cease to exist, and the world will be better for it.”

“Z and A?—”

“Will make our lives miserable. Torture us. Grind our bones to make their overnight oats. Heard it all before.” Denny touched the man’s forehead.

And he turned to dust.

She stepped over the pile of soot. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Moving quickly but quietly, we climbed the steps, pausing every so often to listen for movement or feel for presences. We were nearly to the door when it opened.

And my nightmare began.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

VIOLENCE IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

AURORA

No.

No, no, no.

Ryan stood in the doorway, blocking our exit.

Our escape.

Like in my vision, he looked tense and disheveled. His suit was rumbled, but his face softened the instant he saw me. “Sweetheart. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We need to go.”

“What’s it look like we’re trying to do?” Juno asked. “If you’d get out of our way.”

“Aurora, come here. I’ll protect you like always.”

“You’re not supposed to still be in Salem.” It was the only reason I hadn’t pinched Deke the moment I’d found out where we were. I mentally recalled the tour list in the email. “You should be in Providence right now.”

Shock coated his handsome features at my spoken words before they softened. “And leave you? No. Never. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I left when you were in Maine.”

“But he had a feeling you’d be here.” He grinned, but it was… off. “And he was right, of course.”

“Th-that guy,” I stammered out. “The angry one from Beacon.”

“Not a concern. I won’t let him get you. I won’t letanyoneget you,” he vowed.

“Okay, who the hell is this dude?” Denny asked. I could see her head tilt out of the corner of my eye, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Ryan.

MyRyan.

“Her fiancé,” he answered. “She shouldn’t be talking to you. Or anyone. She was in an accident, and she’s not fully there, you know? What she says shouldn’t be trusted.”

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