She reminded me who I was. She reminded me what I was capable of. She reminded me what kind of man I wanted to be.
I lay in bed beside her with the moonlight coming in through the curtains over the window. Her hand was on my stomach, her cheek against my shoulder.
Without looking at me, she asked, “Are you okay?” She knew I was awake without seeing my face. She could tell just by the way I breathed.
We were supposed to leave in two days. Normally, I couldn’t wait to get out of this place, but this time, I was afraid. What would happen when I wasn’t there? People would die. Once I was free, I had to form a plan quickly because the longer I waited, the more victims would be hung on that noose. A plan had never felt impossible when Fender was my partner.
But now it was just me.
When I didn’t answer, she propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at me, her hair all over my chest and shoulder. It was so long now, getting longer and longer with every month that passed.
“My life would be so much easier if Fender would just see reason.”
She rubbed my chest then pressed a few kisses to my neck. “Maybe he will…before the end.”
“I don’t know…”
“You stood up to him and spared those three women, publicly taking away his power. He could’ve done something then, but he didn’t. I think you’re right. He’s not evil as I thought he was. So, there’s still hope…I think.”
It was our final day at the camp. At sunrise, we would leave for the last time. I knew Raven would never return because I wouldn’t bring her with me when I challenged my brother. It was too dangerous. There was too much at stake for me to risk the one thing I cared about the most.
I went to the clearing to retrieve Raven at the end of the workday, acting as her guard as if we were still in the midst of winter.
The sun was starting to fade over the horizon, tucking behind the tall trees, the clearing becoming shaded. There were long shadows across the ground, and the heat was starting to dissipate. Wordlessly, she left the table and joined me, her skin damp and shiny from the sweat. Not once did she complain about the tiring work she had to do. She did it every day just so she could sleep with me every night.
But as I turned to look at her, something happened.
One of the guards shouted. “A crew is headed this way!”
Raven’s eyebrows rose as she stopped in her tracks.
I did the same and looked over my shoulder. “A crew? What does that mean?” I turned around the other way and jogged to the front gates.
Raven was right behind me.
Eric picked up a large board and dropped it into the slot across the gate, an extra measure to keep it closed.
“What the fuck is happening?” I shouted to Nathan, who was at the top of the ladder, looking over the edge.
“There’s thirty guys on horses,” he reported. “All dressed in black. All riding this way. They’ve got guns too.”
There was no possibility it was any of our guys coming with the wagons or with a shipment. I didn’t need to look over the edge to see for myself. “Keep them out as long as you can. We’ll get the guns.” Just as I turned away, I heard guns start to fire off and bullets pierce the wooden perimeter.
Nathan jumped off the ladder and landed hard on the ground. “Oh Jesus…”
Fear struck me like an ax to the chest. It was about survival, not just for the camp, but for our souls. I turned to Alix and gave an order. “Get all the guns out of the vault. Hand them out. Now.” Alix took off at a dead run.
Another round of bullets struck the wooden fence around the camp. The only reason why I’d built it was to keep the girls in, not the enemies out. But now, I was glad I built that wall with my own hands.
“Who are they?” Raven’s frantic voice came to my ears.
“I don’t know. Stay behind me.” I went up to another guard and gave an order. “Release all the prisoners. All hands on deck.” He took off to get the keys.
I ran through the camp until I made it to the stables. I unlocked the doors and found a horse that was already saddled. “Here. Take her to the edge of the forest behind your old cabin.”
She took the reins. “Why?”
“Does it look like I have time to explain? Just fucking do it.” I left her side and ran back to the center of the camp.
Alix was handing out guns to the guards. When he saw me run up to him, he tossed me a rifle.