“Or Craig was picked up and killed outside of the zone,” Ciaran says.
“I want you three out tomorrow, setting that up. Jason and I will take Reed and Bentley into town to get into the local systems.” Matt gives directions to everyone.
“Our time is up.” Jason nods to where the sheriff is waving his arm.
Quietly, we all head back to our vehicles and jump in quickly. Griffin comes in behind us, scuffing the tracks over with his feet, while holding a radio in his hand. At the turn, Matt and Jason go to the left, while we all head right, our truck the only one on the road. After a couple of minutes, sirens can be heard in the distance, sending a shudder through my body.
“Do you think Matt will tell the Saffrans? Maybe they can leave,” Saylor asks, her voice loud in the quiet cab.
Ciaran shakes his head. “If they leave now, they could be sitting ducks without our protection. Whoever sent Craig and Julie, they know we’re here already and who is with us.”
“I’m worried, Ci. Maybe we can get them to an airport and back to New York. This fight isn’t about them or Raina. You know it isn’t,” Saylor retorts back, before turning to the window, her arms crossed over her chest.
I want to open my mouth and speak up, but the slight shake of Silas’ head makes me stop. I bite my tongue, trying to reel in my emotions. It’s obvious there is more going on here, and after everything I’ve learned from the previous night, Saylor seems to be right. My being here with the Saffrans is either a horrible coincidence or just really bad timing. The cell phone in my pocket feels like it’s burning a hole in my skin, calling to me, reminding me that someone is checking on Saylor, and that I’m the one helping him.
By the time we get back to the cabin, I can’t seem to get out of the truck fast enough. Saylor jumps out and storms toward the door first, Ciaran hot on her heels, muttering a few swear words under his breath.
“They always get like that.” Silas nods to them, and I bite back the urge to smile.
“She’s worried.” I shrug, my gaze turning to meet his.
“She might be right, though.” Kai talks for the first time since we left the docks. Silas and I turn to him, his devastation written all over his face. “Think about it. Our three biggest targets are here. And Mila, but she’s supposed to be dead, so really, it’s four. The Saffrans are a safe house, but they are tied to New York like Say and her mom.”
“Kai, whoever gave Craig and Julie the information to find us already knew we would be here. We come every summer. Saffrans or not, we would have been here, and they knew it. They used their Rogue knowledge to try and get close,” Silas reminds him. Both boys wear their betrayal on their faces while Silas’ words sink in. Kai is the first to look away and school his features.
“I can’t see her get hurt.”
“Then we do our best to up our game here and in the woods,” Silas tells him. With a small nod, Kai walks away, heading back to the cabin he’s been staying in.
I turn my attention to Silas, whose eyes have already landed on me. His green orbs reflect in the darkness. His jaw tightens when I step closer to him and wrap my arms around his waist.
“What are you doing?” His voice is laced with humor, but I keep my head buried against him anyways.
“Friendly hug,” I say, before letting my arms drop back to my sides.
“Want me to walk you back?” He nods to the cabin, his eyes watching me again.
My gaze hits the ground and I feel my cheeks warm. My insides are rioting and I know I won’t be able to sleep. Everything in my blood sings for me to run. Worse, I still feel as if we’re being watched. My teeth bite into my lip while I hug myself, fighting to keep the chills at bay. “I’m—“
Silas’ brow lifts. “You’re what?”
“I’m scared, okay?” I huff, and take a few steps toward the cabin I share with Oaklynn and Saylor, before my feet freeze. Keeping my back to him, I do something I haven’t done in years, I lower my guard. “I’ve been hunted and I’ve been sold, Silas. This fight may not be mine, but I’m terrified all the same.”
Silence hangs between us, but I can hear the intake of his breath. Whatever he thought I was going to say, that was not it. Shit, even I’m surprised I said it. Telling someone my feelings has never worked out well for me; in fact, it usually goes horribly wrong. I’m about to laugh it off when I hear the timbre sound of his voice and three words that send me into a tailspin.
“Stay with me.”
My feet shuffle on the ground until I’m facing him, my dark eyes scanning his body language from head to toe, not a smirk on his lips or a laugh in his eyes. He’s dead serious. My heart hammers in my chest, but I find myself nodding, yes, anyways. Silas walks forward and takes my hand in his again, leading me to where his separate cabin is located. My fingers flex in his, but he doesn’t let go. I don’t really know what I was hoping for and I’m not sure if this was it. We are friends though, right? Friends have sleepovers that aren’t sexual. Plus, I just happen to be lucky enough to have a friend who would actually protect my life if it came down to it.
I step into the cabin and follow Silas to his room. He opens the door for me and shuts it once we’re in. I’m instantly overwhelmed with his scent and surprised by how clean the room is. Even his bed is made, the corners pulled tight and tucked in.
“You can have that side.” He nods to the side against the wall, farthest from the door. I slip off my shoes and crawl across the huge king-size mattress. Flipping onto my side, I keep watch while Silas unclasps his vest and lays it across the extra chair in the room. He drops his hat and a silver chain from around his neck on top of the dresser before walking over to the bed. As if he’s done it a hundred times, which I have no doubt he has, Silas removes his gun from his waistband, empties the chamber, and sets it under his mattress.
My breath catches. I’ve never slept on top of a gun. Even though it is essentially in pieces, the feeling still makes my chest squeeze. Oblivious to the meltdown occurring in my brain, Silas walks over to the bathroom. I hear water running then he’s back, a pair of grey sweatpants hanging low on his hips, and a clean white t-shirt stretched across his chest. What. The. Hell. Why does that look so good? Why am I ogling my friend? I turn to look at the ceiling and run my hand over my face. I’m about to jump up and run back to my cabin, killers be damned, when the bed dips and Silas slides in next to me.
“Feel better?” he questions, his voice gruff.
I nod, before clearing the lump in my throat. “Just tired.”
He shifts, bringing his arm next to mine. His warmth seeps into me, and I start to feel my body relax. “Shut your mind off, Lux. You’re safe.”
My eyes close and I fight the urge to smile. Bossy, arrogant, Midwest boy. I do as he says, though. I let my brain turn off, trying to forget the images of what I saw tonight, and let go of the anticipation of what’s to come. I breathe through the guilt, knowing I’m still hiding things from everyone and from Silas. I just need to make it through tonight and maybe tomorrow, everything won’t feel so bleak.
I don’t know if it’s the bed or Silas’ warmth, but I lose the battle with my consciousness. My body turns to a puddle and soon the only image behind my eyelids is of flashing green eyes, tan skin, and a cocky smile.
Silas
Lux is acting weird. It’s the second time today that I notice she gets quiet when I’m near her and makes any excuse not to be around me. Normally I could care less if I slept with a girl and we didn’t talk the next day. Only, I didn’t fuck Lux; we actually slept. I woke up with her head on my arm, my hand tingling from the blood loss, and her body pressed against my side. Usually this would be a ‘what the fuck moment,’ but with Lux, I hadn’t minded. Now I don’t know what to do, and the angsty, uncertain feeling in my chest is pissing me off. The fact that she keeps moving away from me is also pissing me off.
“What’s up with you, Eeyore? You look even more crabby than usual,” Kai questions from next to me. Ciaran snorts
.
“He slept with Raina last night.”
Kai’s brows rise and his eyes widen. “Seriously? She’s a target.”
My hand connects with the back of his head, my jaw clenched. “It not like that.”
“They slept together,” Ciaran reiterates, putting more emphasis on the slept part. Heat creeps up my neck when they both look at me.
“It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.” Kai shakes his head, and my elbow connects with his side.
“Can we get back to work, please?” I remind them both, “Matt wants these cameras out today.”
We all fall silent, but I can feel their eyes and silent communication. I’m a second away from losing my shit on them when Saylor walks over to us, her eyes gazing among us. “You three gossip more than teen girls, you know that?” She smirks.
Kai opens his mouth, but Ciaran jumps in, his arm slinging around Saylor’s shoulders. “It’s nothing Silas can’t handle.”
“Mmhmm,” she rolls her eyes, “Matt and Jason just left. We need to get going soon.”
“They took Reed, right?” I ask, knowing that the less targets under our watch today, while we’re in the woods, will be best.
“Yes, and Mila. And Mrs. Saffran asked Ollie to invite Bentley with them while they visit friends over on Robin Lake.”
Kai grunts. “Probably more of Rhodes’ type of crowd.”
Saylor laughs. “At least they’re all busy and guarded. Raina is the only one coming with us and the girl can handle herself.”
I keep my eyes down, but I know my friends’ eyes are on me. I twist the camera in my fingers and place the last screw in tightly. “All set.”
Kai and Ciaran take the cameras and head over to the four wheelers, waiting for us, leaving just Saylor and me. Our eyes connect and she tilts her head.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Her shoulders shrug. “I was sneaking back to my cabin the same time Raina was to hers. It was very early.”
I keep my face blank, waiting her out. One thing I’ve learned about Saylor is that if she has something on her mind, she won’t tiptoe around it. Eventually, she caves. “Are you okay?”
I blink at her in confusion. “Me?”
She nods. “Clearly you guys didn’t have sex, and now she’s ignoring you. Both of which have to be something you aren’t used to. Plus, don’t think I’m blind, Si, I see the way she looks at you when you aren’t looking.”
“We’re friends,” I respond automatically, the words feeling so foreign coming out of my mouth.
“Exactly.” Saylor point her finger at me. “I want to make sure you’re okay. Mila was curious too.”
“Mila even knows? She’s fourteen.” I reel back, slightly horrified. I’ve become a topic of conversation for my sort of sisters. “I don’t even want to know. I’m fine, Raina is fine. Maybe she was just embarrassed you saw her.”
Saylor bites her lip, contemplating, and I see a flash of guilt in her eyes. “Maybe. I don’t know.” She blows out her breath. “I just want you to be okay. Things are weird enough with everything Oak and Kai.”
My head bows, and my heart squeezes. I can’t remember anyone caring about my well-being in a long time and it being Saylor makes me uncomfortable. All I can think about is the word family. I have one. It’s messed-up and chaotic, but at the end of the day, she is my family now. She wants to be. So does our dad. And apparently, so does sweet, little, innocent Mila.
“I’m fine,” I tell her, shrugging. I’m so far from fine, but she doesn’t need to know. No one does. “We should get ready to head out. It’s a long trek through the whole property.”
Saylor nods, a strand of her lilac hair falling into her eyes. We fall into step with each other as we head over to where the trucks are parked, packed up with the four wheelers. Saylor’s feet falter when we get closer. My gaze swings up and connects with the same scene she is seeing. Oaklynn is standing arms crossed in front of Kai, confusion written on her face.
“I don’t see why it’s such a big deal I didn’t want to spend the afternoon with my parents’ snobby friends from high school.”
“It’s not, babe,” Kai answers, “I just didn’t think you’d want to be out in the woods all day.”
Oaklynn snorts. “Saylor and Raina are going. I’m not an ice princess who’s going to melt.”
I flick my eyes to Kai. I see his easy-going mask slide into place, but then his left hand twitches and he cracks his knuckles. He’s struggling. I feel Saylor twitch next to me, even though she chuckles slightly.
“It’s fine,” Kai finally replies, his mouth splitting into a grin. “Anytime I get to spend the whole day with you, I’m happy.” He steps into Oaklynn and wraps her in his arms.
Over her shoulder, his dark eyes move between Ciaran and me. This is not fine. This means more work for us. Oaklynn may not notice many things, but I’m pretty sure she’d have some questions about why we’re setting up cameras and sensors every few yards in the woods. What started out as a couple hours’ project, just turned into a half a day one.
I walk over to my truck and haul my backpack inside. Silently fuming at my idiot of a friend. Part of me can’t help but wonder if this is all part of Matt’s plan by inviting the Saffrans. At some point, Kai is going to have to get real. He went against all the rules and policies in the first place to be with Oaklynn and didn’t think about Rogue until after the fact.
“You’re going to have to do all of this on your own,” Ciaran says quietly next me, shoving another backpack into my back seat.
“The fuck?” I turn to him. “Why?”
“Saylor is going to want to stick close to Oaklynn now.” Ciaran’s jaw clamps shut. “We can’t risk Oaklynn asking questions.”
“And what is she supposed to think I’m out here doing?” My brow rises.
“Setting up hunting gear,” he answers quickly, too quickly. Usually I appreciate it when he can bullshit really quick but not when it works against me.
“So four hours of work is going to turn into a whole day,” I remind him.
Ciaran’s head nods and his eyes flicker behind me. “We follow the same plan. Raina knows what’s going on, and there is less explaining on your end. I’ll handle it.”
“He needs to get his shit figured out.” I nod toward Kai, who is getting into a Jeep.
Ciaran nods, before turning and heading over to his own truck. My eyes connect with Saylor, who is already in and waiting. She gives me a small smile, but I can tell from here that she hates this.
“If it makes you feel better, I’m actually good at climbing trees,” Lux says, while opening the passenger door.
“Normally, I’d be impressed,” I concede, still too lost in the anger rolling through my chest.
“How about I just promise to stay out of your way and not complain about how long this will take?” she offers and I feel my mouth twitch with the urge to smile.
“Catch all that, did you?”
She shrugs. “It doesn’t take a genius to know the work has tripled.”
I nod, before sliding behind the steering wheel. Lux also jumps in and buckles. After last night, I expected her to be jumpy or to see some fear. The girl saw a dead body. Then again, I know she’s probably seen worse things, like she has already claimed.
“Are you okay to do this?” I can’t help but ask. It’s risky enough taking a target with me, but knowing we’re going to be alone the majority of the time is getting to me. In my head, I count and recount the amount of ammunition I have packed and can carry on me, discreetly, in case we run into trouble.
“I can handle myself,” Lux reassures me. Her dark eyes hold mine until the tension in my muscles eases.
Alright then. Breaking eye contact, I maneuver my truck up the drive and fall in line behind Ciaran and Kai. We’re both silent in my truck for the thirty-minute drive as we head out of town, taking the longer route to the cliffs, which marks the middle of where our property is. I can see Lux shifting nex
t to me, taking in the scenery, miles and miles of trees, rock, and wildlife. Most people do not know that Rogue owns this land up here. Matt and Jason have purchased chunks over the years, under aliases and as forestry conservationists. If we ever needed a backup plan or somewhere to hide besides Savage Lakes, this would be where we would go.
Eventually we reach the hill and park along the dirt turnabout. The minute I step out, I can immediately sense the change in the air. The humidity is thick, and there is a slight chill now that the sun is gone.
“It’s going to rain,” Ciaran speaks my thoughts, his gaze finding mine. Better hurry the fuck up. The thought passes between us, and I nod my head slightly. We work in silence to untie the four-wheelers and back them down the ramp. I securely fasten all three bags to the back of mine, before strapping a rifle bag over the top.
“A hunting rifle?” Oaklynn questions, her brow raised, from where she and the girls are circled up.
“Lots of large animals in these areas,” Kai answers, before strapping his own to his four-wheeler.
“Think we’re ready,” Ciaran calls out, and everyone disperses to their own designated ride.
I pretend I don’t feel the tingling under my skin as Lux places her hands on my shoulders to hop on, or that my stomach doesn’t clench when those hands slide to my sides and grip the edge of my worn t-shirt. I just try to let my body relax and my face go blank.
“We’re going to head this way first, so I can get the deer cams up,” I tell them, playing my part, when Ciaran and Kai turn to look at me. I see the brief flash of guilt in Kai’s eyes. Fucker. He owes me and he knows it.
“Catch up later then?” Ciaran asks, playing the same script, his attitude as nonchalant as possible.
I nod, before flicking my key on. I hit the gas and turn in the opposite direction as them before anyone can ask questions. Lux and I take off down the gravel path until it turns to dirt. This particular trail will last for a few miles before we’ll end up trekking through the woods. Lux’s knees tighten and I feel her shift behind me. Our ride isn’t going to be comfortable soon, and it’s long.
#SummerGirl Page 8