Page 34 of Talon

Adrenaline surges through my veins, pushing me to run faster, to keep going despite my exhaustion. If Blackstone catches me, he’s going to drag me into his room where he hides disgusting toys no boy should ever be forced to play with.

Finally, a glimmer of hope appears before me—a faint light at the end of a hallway. I push myself forward, my lungs burning with each gasping breath. The light grows brighter, beckoning me toward it like a beacon of salvation. It’s coming from a door, radiating from it. All I have to do is open it.

I grasp the knob and pull. The door swings open. Brilliant light blinds me momentarily. I bring my arm up to block the glare … and that’s what I see him. Blackstone. I’m not free. I’ll never be free. And now, he’s got me cornered, and I know there’s no escape.

With a gasp, I wake up from the nightmare that has plagued me since we escaped Blackstone’s dungeon. My heart races until I realize I’m safe. He’s not here. I’m not trapped in his house anymore. I’m okay.

Overwhelmed with relief, my shoulders sag. I’m not a scared kid anymore, but the dream leaves me shaken. The fear and adrenaline from the chase linger even as I try to ground myself in the familiarity of my room in the clubhouse. Although it was just a dream, the haunting sensation of being pursued clings to me, a persistent reminder of the horror I’d endured all those years ago. A nightmare that won’t end until Blackstone’s dead.

I glance at the clock on the nightstand. It’s after two a.m. Even though I was only asleep for a few minutes, it felt like hours.

After sliding out of bed, I pad across the room into my bathroom. Splashing water on my face, I don’t dare look in the mirror. I’ll see fear looking back at me, and I can’t deal with that right now. For some reason, a part of me is still terrified of Blackstone. I’m a man now, not a boy. I shouldn’t be afraid of him, but there’s a primal dread trapped in my body that I can’t seem to shake. It’s always with me. It never goes away, and I’m sure it will be a part of me until the day I die. I’ve learned to live with it, but I hate it.

Slipping out of my room, I silently pad to Jessica’s bedroom door. I slowly open it so I can check on her. She looks so beautiful, even when she sleeps. Her honey-blonde hair fans out across her pillow, forming a perfect halo. She’s wearing a t-shirt Nina brought over earlier, along with the skimpiest pair of panties I’ve ever seen. I shouldn’t be standing here drooling, but it’s hard not to. She’s so perfect, far too perfect for a man like me.

Loki raises his head up from where he’s sleeping. I give him a quick nod and silently tell him to go back to sleep. He lays back down and shuts his eyes.

With a sigh, I close the door softly so I won’t wake her. The last thing she needs is more stress. Finding me hovering over her like a pervert would be a disaster. I wasn’t trying to creep on her anyway. I simply wanted to make sure she was okay.

The cool night air soothes my heated skin as I step outside. Wrapping my arms around myself, I walk down the steps at the front of the clubhouse. The night is still; I can’t shake the sense of foreboding that’s got its hold on me. Usually, nocturnal animals will come to greet me, but not tonight. Even they sense something’s wrong.

A branch cracks near the river. My hand immediately goes to my cut, and I pull my gun out. I didn’t have it at Sienna’s house, and that’s a mistake I won’t be making again.

Holding it tightly, I creep around the edge of the house toward the sound. The moment I spot the shadow, I relax. I’d know that mountain of a man anywhere.

“Hey, brother,” Reaper says.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” I ask, falling into step beside him.

“Bad dream. Felt like a premonition.”

“Blackstone?” I guess, remembering my own nightmare.

“Who else?” He spits onto the ground, his expression darkening.“I had this strange feeling, almost as if he was surrounding us. Just watching. Waiting for the right moment to strike. So, I came out here to check shit out.”

“You think it could be real?” My heart races at the thought of that man infiltrating our lives again. As far as I know, Reaper hasn’t had premonitions before, but our powers seem to shift over time. Maybe it’s a recent skill he’s acquired.

“Didn’t want to scare anyone … But it’s been eating away at me. I can’t shake it.”

“Is there something we should be doing?” My mind’s already racing with possibilities.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to piss everyone off, so I didn’t say anything. But I’ve been sneaking onto Blackstone’s property, trying to see how far I can get before the guards stop me.”

“Shit, man.” I run a hand through my hair, both impressed by his boldness and pissed off because he didn’t include me.“What happened the last time?”

“Almost made it into the house. His security is tight, but I found a gap in their patrol schedule. If I’d had just a few more seconds, I could’ve slipped inside.”

“Are you insane? You could’ve been caught! You could’ve been killed! If Scar finds out about this—”

“Scar’s not going to hear about it. Right?” Reaper gets in my face.

“Why shouldn’t I tell him?”

“Because he’d make me stop, and I can’t do that. We need to know what Blackstone’s planning. He’s up to something. First the run for governor, and now, those rumors about a presidential bid. If that happens, we’re fucked. He’d be the most powerful man in America. We can’t let him have the upper hand again.”

“Maybe you’re right,” I concede, my chest tightening with anxiety.“But we have to be careful. We can’t afford any mistakes. If Blackstone ever catches you—”

“He won’t. You’ve got to trust me.” His eyes glint with conviction.“But it wouldn’t hurt to have you with me. Having someone watch my back would be a good thing.”

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