Page 73 of Healing Souls

“What?” I ask, looking up at Ryker and Grayson, who are in front of me.

“It’s not quite the same. Waterboarding is slightly different then what they did, but this is along the same lines,” Ryker replies in a low voice, taut with anger.

Grayson’s hand slowly raises to my cheek, and he gently wipes the tears away. “I’m so sorry, Harley,” he whispers, his body shuddering slightly. A look of helplessness and despair mars his gorgeous face.

This raw and primitive grief slamming into my chest is so overwhelming I squeeze my eyes shut. Someone being in pain with me, grieving what I went through with me, it’s something I never thought I would ever have. Part of me always wondered if I would spend the rest of my life holding it all inside and never letting another person know how tormented my own soul was.

“I can’t—” I clear my suddenly dry throat. “I can’t talk more about this right now. It’s overwhelming,” I murmur. “But I…”

I finally open my eyes again and drag them up, looking at Ryker and Grayson before straining my neck back and peering at Cayden, who still sits at my back.

“I want to destroy them,” I finish. “I want them to pay for everything they did. But I am realizing that I don’t think I can do it alone. Still, I know that I need to do it. I don’t know how or in what way, but I need to know that I am strong enough to face my demons.”

A glorious smile breaks out over Ryker’s face. “I will do everything in my power to bring your demons to their knees in front of you so you,”—he cups my cheek—“my little flame, can destroy them however you please. We will be there every single step of the way, I promise. Whatever you need, you have it.” His eyes hold my own hostage, belaying his sincerity.

“Promise me one thing?” I ask hesitantly.

He nods. “No secrets. I need the truth always. I can’t handle being in the dark. I spent three years there and I don’t want to ever let myself be there again.” Fresh tears leak out and fall down my cheeks but I quickly wipe them away.

Ryker’s gaze jumps to Grayson’s and then to Cayden’s. As I glance around at them, I see them communicate something through their eyes. A determination? Whatever it is, it’s gone as fast as it appeared.

“No secrets. We all agree to be completely transparent,” Ryker assures me.

Giving him a small smile, I nod. “Okay.” Relief and fear flow through me. Trusting people isn’t going to be easy. But they somehow make it easier for me to let down my walls.

We all slowly get up off the ground and decide to head back to the main house before anyone comes looking for us since it’s getting dark now. As we’re leaving, I notice one of the car parts. It looks like the hood to a car and is mostly covered by branches and another car part, but it has paint on it like someone was painting something on it. I run my finger over it as we walk past.

When we reach the yard, I notice a light on at Gabriel’s house. My steps falter as we pass, but I keep following them up to the door that leads to the main house.

Cayden walks over to where the dog, Bear, is. I’m still not sure why Cayden was so weird about it earlier when his dog came up to me, but understanding that we all have our own demons to work through, I let it go for now.

Ryker turns towards me at the door. “Can I stay with you again tonight?” he asks.

My heart warms at the same time as my cheeks, loving that he asked me and thinking about our kiss… “Yes.” I look at Grayson. “Will you, um, stay too?” I’m pretty sure my entire face is on fire now.

Grayson’s cheeks flush a little as he glances at Ryker before nodding. “Of course.”

Ryker grabs the door and opens it for me, but my feet don’t move. My gut turns, knowing what I need to do.

Grayson glances behind me, then in the direction of Gabriel's house, before looking back at me. “How about we meet you upstairs?” he suggests, understanding clear in his tone.

I nod, biting my lip. “Okay.”

Ryker opens his mouth, but before he can get any words out, Grayson pushes him inside and shuts the door behind them. I let out a small chuckle and spin around, facing Gabriel’s house.You can do this, Harley.

My feet don’t move. I’m not even sure why; I just feel stuck. Am I sure this is what I want to do? Yes. So why am I so scared to go talk to him?

“Standing there staring won’t change anything,” a deep voice rumbles from my right.

I glance over at Cayden, who is watching me from where he stands next to Bear, the giant dog that seems to be perpetually attached to his side.

Instead of responding to him, I get my feet moving and head straight to Gabriel’s house. Every step makes my heart pound harder. By the time I reach the front door, it feels as if my heart might beat right out of my chest.

Taking a deep breath, I ring the doorbell and wait.

The door opens a minute later to Gabriel in jeans and a t-shirt with no shoes on. “Harley,” he breathes with wide eyes. Stepping back, he gestures for me to come inside. “Come in. You never have to knock. This is your home.”

I nod and step inside as he shuts the door behind me.

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