Page 32 of Goose's Wren

I don’t even remember getting off the bike.

One second, we were tearing down the back roads like hounds on a scent.Snake had narrowed their location through traffic cams and a miracle of GPS guesswork.

The next, I was kicking the rotted door clean off its hinges, a scream still ringing in my ears.

Her scream.That sound will haunt me for the rest of my life.

The second I see her, crumpled on the floor with blood on her face, her shirt torn, everything inside me turns to rage.

He’s standing in the middle of the trailer with his belt undone.His eyes are wide and his hands are in the air like that’s going to save him.

I crash into him like a freight train, taking him to the floor with a force that rattles the trailer walls.My fists land without rhythm, without thought, just pure violent instinct.One after another.His face is slick with blood in seconds, and still it’s not enough to settle the rage.

“Goose!”someone yells behind me, Blade or maybe Prez.I don’t know, don’t give a shit.

All I can see is Wren, broken and terrified, trying to crawl away.Him standing over her like she was nothing.Like she wasn’t mine.Like she didn’t matter.

I hear Prez shout again.“That’s enough!You’re gonna kill him!”

I feel two sets of arms grabbing me, hauling me off his limp body.

“Get Wren out of here,” Timber growls.“We’ll get this fucker ready.”

I look over at my girl.She’s still on the floor, curled in on herself, shaking.Blood trickles from her cheek.

Her eyes, Fuck, her eyes are wide and wild, locked on me like she’s not sure if I’m real.I tear free from Blade’s grip, stumbling to her side.

“Wren,” I breathe, voice raw.“I’ve got you now.You’re safe.”

She blinks at me once.Then again.And when she finally lets go, the sob that breaks out of her chest cuts deeper than any knife.I pull her into my arms, blood and all, holding her like I’ll never let go again.

Because I won’t.Not ever.Not after everything.

I carry her outside like she weighs nothing.She clings to me, tangling her firsts into my cut.Her breathing is ragged against my neck.Every now and then, her body shakes with a sob she’s too exhausted to hold back.

The air outside is cooler, cleaner, less foul than that goddamn trailer, but it doesn’t stop the knot in my gut from tightening.

Spotting a wide tree off to the side, I head in its direction.Its branches hang low and thick with leaves.It’s quiet, shaded and out of sight of the dump I just pulled her out of.

Walking over, I sink to the ground, sitting with her tucked into my lap.She draws her knees up, burying her head in my chest like she’s trying to disappear.I wrap my arms around her and hold on like I might lose her again.

“You’re safe now,” I whisper into her hair.Over and over.“You’re safe.I got you, Wren.I promise.He’s not gonna touch you again.No one is.You’re safe.”

Her fingers twitch against my side and her body trembles as she cries quietly.Each sound like glass shattering inside my ribs.

I rest my chin on top of her head and close my eyes, just holding her while my fury sits just beneath my skin, a live wire humming for blood.

Eventually, she goes still.Her breathing slows.Too slow and I pull back just enough to look at her face.

“Wren?”I say softly, brushing her blood-matted hair back.“Hey, sweetheart, stay with me, alright?”

Her eyes flutter open at the sound of my voice, and she gives me the barest nod.

I kiss her forehead gently, careful not to startle her, then pull her close again.Rocking us both under that tree while the rest of the world fades.

It’s a while before I hear the door to the trailer creak open behind me.Prez steps out, his face grim.He glances our way, jaw tightening when he sees Wren in my arms.

He walks over slowly, stopping a few feet away.

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