Give Me a Reason (Redemption Hills 1)

“Promise me,” she wheezed.

He nodded fiercely, and the tears burned so hot as they streaked down his face. “I promise. I promise.”

“Love you forever, my brave boy.”

He felt when she left them. When her spirit flew away. When her body slumped down and the crater formed in the middle of his chest.

A sob tore free. So loud as it burst against the morning sky. Deafening as the anger rushed to fill its place.

Sirens sounded in the distance, and he had to force himself to move. To get up. To go to his brothers who were huddled behind the car, Jud covering Nathan and Logan like he could be their protection.

Trent stumbled that way.

The ground no longer existed as his world canted to the side.

Nothing made sense except for the rage that burned through his veins.

He dropped to his knees in front of them, and he covered them like he’d promised his mom. Praying he could be brave. That he could be enough. That he would do it right.

“What did it say?” his father snarled as he leaned in front of Trent, demanding the answer.

That anger raged at his insides.

Dark and ugly and vile.

Twelve hours had passed. The four of them were at their father’s house. About the last place Trent wanted to be. But this was their lot.

“What did it say?” his father demanded again.

Trent knew he would never forget. Would never erase the memory of that man.

His stomach sick and his soul slayed and vengeance carved on his flesh.

“Demon’s Day.”

Twenty-Four

Eden

“Miss Murphy! Miss Murphy!”

I blinked awake, disoriented as I was jarred from the dead of sleep. Clarity was just on the brink of my mind, flittering around the edges as thoughts of last night spun back through like a dream.

Only the jostling continued, the little voice not so quiet as he shouted, “Miss Murphy! Miss Murphy! Wake it up, why don’t you?!”

Panic seized me when I realized what had woken me was a child jumping in the middle of the mattress.

Gage.

On a gasp, I scrambled around from where I’d had my face buried in the pillow. I was quick to gather the sheet tighter to my chest to make sure I was covered.

My eyes struggled to adjust as I looked at the bouncing silhouette where he was darkened by the blinding rays of sunlight that speared in through the large gap in the drapes.

“Hi, Miss Murphy!”

Oh my god. If I’d ever traipsed into unprofessional territory, this was it. Twisted up in sheets, bare beneath, with my student jumping on the bed.

Did it make it better that he was grinning down on me like my presence had made his entire day?

All cherub cheeks and flapping arms and joy flooding into the room.

My chest tightened, and I eased up to sitting, praying I was fully covered. That he was still so innocent that he didn’t have a clue what’d happened in this room last night.

The thought of it sent heat rushing across the surface of my flesh, a blush lighting every inch as I gulped and tried to orient myself to this reality.

“Miss Murphy! Did you come to see me on the weekend?” He dropped down onto his knees, bouncing a bit, a giggle riding free and wrapping me in warmth. His sweet little voice lowered like we were sharing a secret. “Because I’m your favorite, right, Miss Murphy, right? Don’t worry, I won’t tell nobody, no way.”

Yes. That. For the love of God, don’t tell anyone.

I had to stop myself from saying it aloud.

I cleared my throat and glanced around the room like I might find a life vest to keep me afloat, in dire need of rescue because I was really in over my head.

Treading dangerous, dangerous waters. Waters that no longer affected just Trent and me.

Because here was this beautiful child in the middle of it.

An endless abyss of hopes and consequences.

I wondered if it was only me with their heart on the line. If it was only me taking the risk.

All those complications shouting to be heard.

No question, my daddy would lose it if he knew the position I’d found myself in. Worry for me and the trouble I was asking for.

I didn’t know which was worse—that or the fact I’d broken the clause in my contract where I’d promised, “I agree to conduct myself in a professional manner with all staff, students, and parents.”

I’d broken my oath not to do something so reckless. And our reputation was something the school board took seriously.

I’d meant to be awake and long gone by then.

Slinking out on the shadows on which I’d arrived.

Unashamed but still not having the first clue where I stood.

After last night, there were only a few things that I was sure of…

I’d been changed.

Made whole.

All while setting myself up to get ripped apart.

Gage’s excitement drew me back to the immediate issue at hand.