Page 38 of Trust the Fall

“This is our way out.”

I stare at the solid wall and wonder what rabbit hole I’ve fallen down. I’m no stranger to the mystical, but Hell is another facet altogether.

“Grab my hand,” he commands, and I shake my head.

“Victoria, there isn’t time to waste.”

“I’ll go if you release them too.” I nod my head toward Julian and Law.

“Can’t. Not enough time.”

I dig my heels in. “I won’t leave until they’re released.”

“Victoria,” he grits through his teeth.

“They have a quest that’s just as important as any we’re on. Please, River. Let them out.”

He groans, but heads toward the door, throwing it open. “You only have a few minutes,” River warns. “I didn’t accept Nolda’s terms, and let’s just say he’s reneged on his plans to let us leave. He’ll be here any minute to attempt to cage all of us.”

Julian and Law rush from the cell, but it’s too late. Heavy footsteps pound the ground heading this way.

River swings around, caging me between his solid chest and the hard wall. My eyes widen as he lowers his head toward mine. For a second, I think he’s about to kiss me, and if he does, I will slap him.

“Of all the inopportune times to make a move, reaper,” I hiss.

“Baby, don’t flatter yourself,” he says into my ear. “Take this. Don’t let them know you have it. You’ll have the upper hand.”

He places a dagger into my palm, and if we weren’t moments away from a fight, I’d turn fifty shades of red at my miscalculation of River’s intentions.

I slip the blade into the back of the belt wrapped around the scraps barely covering my body and don’t miss the way River’s eyes rake down my chest. I flush under his heavy-lidded stare.

“What the hell is going on?” a voice booms around the room, and my body stiffens.

Luke.

FOR YOU

This has to be my mind conjuring him because I miss him.

“Or because you’re getting a little too friendly with the reaper.”

There it is again … Luke’s voice. No matter the chastising nature of his words, I long for it to truly be him.

I swing around, searching, silently praying, and there he is. His face is locked in fury and his body tense, but he’s here, and that’s all that matters.

The sight of him brings instantaneous tears to my eyes. My hands fly to my mouth as I cry out his name. “Luke.”

There’s so much I want to say. So much I want to do … with him. All the jumbled, errant thoughts flash through my mind, causing the room to spin a bit.

“Victoria.” My name from his mouth clears the light-headedness, and for the first time since I arrived here in Hell, all is right with the world.

Everything and everyone around me disappears. It’s only him and me. His anger melts away and I can no longer stay in place. I run to him.

He pulls me in, crashing me against his chest. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner, Victoria.”

The tears trickle down my cheeks in a mixture of relief and apprehension. What if this is yet another trick that Hell is playing on me? I might break if that’s the case.

“It’s me, Victoria. I promise. It’s me.”