Page 33 of Talon

His eyes darken momentarily, but then he surprises me by opening up.“I don’t know much about my biological parents. They left me when I was six years old. Said they were going to the store, but they never came back.”

“That must have been so hard.” My heart aches for him.

“Yeah, it was rough.” He gives a half-shrug.“But eventually, someone found me eating garbage behind a gas station quickie-mart. After that, I was put into the foster system.”

“Oh, Talon.”

“It’s all in the past now.” He waves a hand as if it doesn’t matter, but it does. Being abandoned at such a young age had to have a profound impact on him.

“Did anyone ever adopt you?” I ask, intertwining my fingers with his.

“Jonathan Blackstone did.” He averts his gaze, avoiding my surprised look.

“Blackstone? As in Governor Blackstone? The governor of Montana?” I’m intrigued by the connection. He’s one of the most powerful men in the state, maybe even in the country. There are rumors he’s going to run for president, but he hasn’t made an official announcement yet.

“Bedtime,” Talon abruptly interrupts, standing up and offering me his hand.

The sudden change in topic leaves me flustered. Instead of asking for details about how Talon ended up in Montana with Governor Blackstone, I can’t stop thinking about Talon. In bed. Specifically, my bed.

“Are you blushing?” he teases, a playful smirk on his lips.

“You must be hallucinating,” I lie quickly, hoping to deflect his attention from my embarrassment.

“Must be.” The glint in his eye tells me he doesn’t quite believe me.

I still have so many questions about Jonathan Blackstone, but for now, I push them aside. Instead, I focus on the warmth of Talon’s hand in mine and the knowledge that, even in the darkest moments of our lives, we’ve both managed to find a sense of family, and maybe something more.

The moment we step inside the clubhouse, I’m struck by the contrast between the warm, chaotic atmosphere of the common areas and the hushed quiet that fills the hallway. Talon guides me to my room, his hand still wrapped around mine. When we reach my door, he lets go of my hand and leans against the wall.

“Goodnight, Jess,” he murmurs. There’s a hint of hesitation in his voice, making me wonder if he has more on his mind.

“Goodnight, Talon,” I reply softly, my heart pounding as I study his face. The dim light casts shadows across his chiseled features, emphasizing the intensity in his dazzling green eyes.

For a moment, it feels like time is suspended. What would happen if he leaned in to kiss me? Would I respond? My body seems to answer for me, trembling with anticipation, even though my mind is clouded with uncertainty.

He doesn’t move closer, though. Instead, he pushes off the wall and offers me a small smile.“Sleep well.”

“You, too,” I sigh, trying to hide my disappointment.

As I close the door behind me, I lean back against it, feeling the weight of my current situation sink in. I can’t believe I’m living with a motorcycle club. My dad would be furious if he knew. It dawns on me that I haven’t heard from him since he left for his honeymoon with Allison. I remember they’re supposed to return soon, and a pang of anxiety twists in my gut. We’ll have to talk eventually, and I’m not sure how to explain everything.

Deciding to call him in the morning, I force myself to focus on getting ready for bed. But even as I slip between the cool sheets, my thoughts are consumed by images of Talon. His strong arms. His vulnerable past. The undeniable pull between us. It’s all part of a strange puzzle, but I’m going to figure out what’s going on between us eventually, and I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Chapter 10: Talon

Shadows twist and bend as I run through an unfamiliar house. Each hallway leads deeper into the labyrinth. Walls close in around me as if the very structure is conspiring against my escape. Panic gnaws at my chest. The urgency to flee overwhelms me, but I can’t find a way out. And the monster … it’s right behind me, clawing at my tattered shirt, blowing its hot breath down my neck, mocking me with laughter so familiar I’m sure I’ve heard it before.

A sense of impending doom hangs heavy in the air. For a moment, the monster falls behind. My little legs race as fast as I dare because it’s still back there. I’m being pursued by something sinister, something I’m too terrified to face. It’s stalking me, watching from the shadows, reveling in my terror.

The echo of my frantic footsteps reverberates through the empty corridors. Behind me, the sound of ominous footfalls grows louder. He’s getting close. I don’t dare look back because I know, deep in my soul, that it’s him. The demon.

His malevolent presence raises the hair on the back of my neck. He’s been chasing me for years, and no matter how fast or far I run, it’s never enough. He always catches me. He always drags me into a room from which I can’t escape. He always does terrible, wicked things to me while I cry. I can’t let him grab me again. Not tonight. Not ever.

As I sprint through the darkened house, the atmosphere grows colder. Every time I exhale, clouds form in the air. An eerie silence descends. My heartbeat pounds in my ears. My eyes dart from one dark doorway to another, searching for a way out, a window, a door that leads outside—anything to escape the clutches of this nightmarish pursuit.

I stumble into rooms that shift and change with doors leading to nowhere, hallways that wrap around themselves, returning me to the place where I started. The house mocks my attempts to flee. It feeds on my fear, drawing sustenance from my terror.

The monster’s back. Right behind me. But it’s different now. Its icy breath slithers down the back of my neck. Its claws are gone, replaced by hands that seem human but aren’t. I risk a single glance over my shoulder, and what I see stops me in my tracks. It’s Blackstone.

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