Page 186 of Drown My Sorrow

I storm into the Boothe house and yank on the bonds.

The pack gathers around me. Keagan and Beau behind me, seething with deadly intent. Kelly and Ezy appear at the top of the stairs carrying bags with them.

I’m surprised, though it occurs to me I shouldn’t be.

“We’re ready,” Kelly says softly. “There’s a jet waiting.”

Ezy walks down the stairs. He and Keagan disappeared two nights ago and came back covered in blood. Since then, Ezy’s confidence has returned, and he’s been calm but with a deadly edge.

He’s more like us now.

Holt will not be gracing the living with his presence ever again. I don’t think anyone will mourn him.

I take my bag from him and follow him out of the house.

It takes too long to get to the jet. I probe the bonds, searching and searching over and over. Even when we change to a seaplane, I keep searching for them until I feel it.

Her fear and grief.

“Close the bonds!” I snap.

The pack obeys me instantly, without question. My head throbs with panic as I try to work out what I felt.

Whatever it was, I can’t distract her. She’s going to have to hang on until we get there.

“Get ready for war.”

The temperature of the plane plummets.We’re almost there. Just hold on, we’re almost there.

If anything happens to her, not even a tsunami would do as much damage to this island as I will do.

My phone beeps. I glance down, opening the message from Mitch.

Where are you? Gael was arrested weeks ago, and Aspyn is in trouble. Trying to escape the island. Oh, fuck, please, just get here. We need the Daane!

My blood runs cold, my hand trembles. I pass my phone to Beau and go to the front of the plane to tell the pilot to hurry.

Chapter forty-six

Aspyn

AspynAged22

I don’t want to be their burden. So I keep my distance, I push them away with words and anger.

They don’t go anywhere.

They stay right at the fringes of my life and circle like sharks.

Why do I feel so safe with them, then? My thoughts go back and forth, self-loathing and shame versus grief and yearning.

No, they deserve better than someone who is so broken.

So, I don’t talk. For months, I don’t say a word.

Not to anyone.

PresentDay

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