Page 166 of Drown My Sorrow

I let out a roar of rage and storm away from the pack. I can’t get my calm back, and I cannot breathe in this place. All I can see is Noah. All I can hear are the vile words they spat at me.

I pace for a bit, but the doorbell rings, and without stopping to think about it, I go to the front door and yank it open.

The camera in my face takes me right back to the darkest of places. My chest locks up. It’s impossible to breathe. Noah is lying in the rain, the blood is pouring into the street, running into the gutter, taking parts of him that I’m trying to save. He murmurs something. I scream for help.

The screams of people and the roar of sirens that are too slow. Everyone is too busy running away from the guy with the knife. Noah looks up at me, his face contorting.

“It hurts.”

It’s not supposed to hurt.

I’m not supposed to lose him. It’s my job. I’m supposed to protect him. It’s my fault.

It’s my fault.

It’s-

“-your fault your brother Noah died. Where have you been?”

I don’t stop to think. All my focus is on the man in front of me, daring to say his name. Daring to bring it all back.

I launch myself at him and slam my fist into any part of him I can. I don’t think. And I don’t feel. All I can do is hold on. Lost is the torrent of rage and pain.

Doing what I couldn’t do back then.

Those chains that held me back are gone.

I’m Daane now.

I’m hauled back, and I turn, snarling, but Keagan throws me up against a wall, presses a thigh between my legs, and smashes our lips together. I taste blood, but then I’m tearing at him, pulling him towards me, needing more.

Keagan pulls away and turns his head, watching Aspyn’s slow limp to the front door. She looks at the wounded man and inhales, drawing up slightly.

“Get off my property.”

“I’m calling the cops.”

There is no one else, just the one reporter.

Aspyn laughs. The deep mocking sound sends delicious shivers through me.

“You call the cops, and you’ll disappear forever.”

He starts to laugh, but Shale and Beau appear at her back, and it’s suddenly choked off.

“Go now, and be lucky you can still walk. I would have broken your legs,” Beau says conversationally.

He must see something truly terrifying because I hear his feet on the gravel as he runs, and then the door is slammed closed, and Aspyn has turned to face us.

I pant as I struggle to hold all my emotions inside.

“Aspyn-”

She holds up her hand and glances back at Kelly. “Lock the front door. I want no visitors.”

“Done,” Kelly murmurs and kisses her head. “We’ll see you after.”

I watch as Beau, Ezy, Kelly, and Shale disappear, leaving me with Keagan and Aspyn.

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