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Carved in the Shadows

Page 6

by A.L. Jackson

Silas glanced at him. “Don’t stay too far away.”

“Silas.” I basically stamped my foot.

He grunted as he turned back to me, his expression turning soft. “Fine, fine.”

I felt Trevan’s eyes on me. The espresso pools toiled in both support and restraint. “Are you ready?”

I thought maybe he was hoping I’d get cold feet and change my mind.

But I wanted this.

Needed this.

“More than ready.” Still, my throat was thick.

“We’d better get you out of here then.” Trevan’s words were seeded with importance.

I could barely nod, unable to believe I was really leaving this place.

I’d already given the rest of the family my goodbyes as I’d packed the last of my things into the truck. Basically bawling my freaking eyes out as I’d hugged Brinley, who was Silas’s wife, Kai, their little boy, and my grandmother, Meems, goodbye.

“Keep Brinley company for me,” I told my brother. She and I had become besties the moment she came to the property about six months ago.

“You know I will.”

Trevan’s big hands fisted, drawing attention to the tattoo on the back of his left. It was of a crow in full flight with a skull dangling from its talons.

It was the same tattoo every Crow had in the same spot, though each had a different phrase written beneath it.

Trevan’s read Love to Death.

The guy was a crux of nonchalant and morbid.

Silas dipped his head and his voice turned ragged. “Proud of you, Elena. You’re resilient and smart and so fucking inspiring to me. I hope you know that.”

“Not as inspiring as you are to me,” I told him.

Emotion passed between us.

Years of grief and loss and the hope that had been found.

When I couldn’t stand the severity of it any longer, I flew for him and wrapped him in a hard hug. “Thank you, Silas. For every single thing you’ve ever given to me. Most of all, for loving me.”

“Impossible not to love you.” My brother hugged me for the longest time before he finally stepped back with a smirk. “Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind.”

A shriek got free. I couldn’t help it.

This was it.

It was really happening.

My hands shook as I rounded the back of the truck and slid into the driver’s seat.

I pushed the button for the ignition, and the engine rumbled to life.

But what really rumbled was Trevan’s motorcycle as he kicked it over. The ground rolled with the power it emitted.

I looked in the rearview mirror.