Page 91 of Pucked Around and Found Out

Just... human.

And I don't know if that realization makes things better or worse.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

TOREN

Halo and Carnage are silent as we drive away from the rink. I know this is a tough situation for them. They were supposed to ensure Cas’s safety today. I know Carnage well enough to know he’s pissed off that it was me who fought for Alex’s brother’s life and not one of them.

We knew going to the rink today that we were all walking in blind, but it was a chance we had to take. I peer out the back window to see cars following behind us. Alex, some of his men and the rest of the guys were all scattered around the rink, prepared to storm the castle if we needed them.

Truth is, Cas was right. If shit popped off they would never have made it to us in time.

Halo’s phone rings through the Bluetooth speakers, he answers it, then Alex’s voice fills the car.

“Scott and some of the others are tailing the car that left,” he says.

“They’re going after the brother, he’s been hiding out,” Halo answers.

“I’m intercepting that car.” I inhale sharply. “Devlin wants Toren’s brother, then we’re going to trade Masen for Cas.”

“Understood,” Halo replies, then ends the call. I meet Carnage’s gaze in the rear-view mirror for a second before I turn away. I know Masen has done some evil things and he should pay for those crimes, but the thought of him being tortured and forced to endure the same amount of anguish and pain my father and Meekan did churns my stomach.

“Carn?”

“Yeah?”

“I need to be there when they intercept my brother.” Halo looks back at me with a surprised look on his face.

“Why?” he presses.

I decide to be honest. “I need to look him in the eye and hear him tell me the truth. I need closure, Halo, and I won’t get that if he’s dead.” He stares at me silently for a long moment, then suddenly nods and turns to face the front.

I watch as he pushes a few buttons on his phone, then his dial tone fills the car.

“Halo?” a man says, as he answers the call.

“Send me your location, we’re backing you up.”

“We’re still on their tail. I’ll send you my location to track.” Halo doesn’t reply, he ends the call, then turns to his brother.

“Hit the interstate, we’re going to pay her brother a visit.” Gratitude fills me.

“Thank you,” I breathe out quietly.

“Get the closure you need, we didn’t get it with our sister.” Halo’s revelation stumps me for a moment before I gather myself.

I slump back in my chair and close my eyes.

The events of the morning play on a loop in my head like a movie. His face and the devastation he tried to mask is plaguing me. I lied and hid the truth about Caspian from him because I knew his betrayal would open the wounds he has tried to keep hidden from the world. He lost his sister and his best friends, the only three people in this world he truly trusted and loved.

The thought of loving and caring for someone else terrifies him.

I see it every time I look into his eyes, that’s why I can’t give up. I can’t let him go even when I know he’ll cause me more pain and say hurtful things. He’ll never say the words or drop to his knees and beg but, I know Xaden needs me.

I get so lost in my own thoughts, reliving the horrors of the past two years, so when we suddenly come to a stop, I jolt in my seat. I snap my eyes and instantly stiffen in my seat. My breathing turns ragged and I have to remind myself I am no longer trapped inside that building, I’m free and my father can never lock me away again.

Halo and Carnage remain still and leave me to decide what the next move is. A part of me just wants to watch Masen be dragged out of there, so I don’t have to relive the worst year of my life by going inside, but another part, the dark depraved part of me that Xaden brought to life, wants me to go in there and show him what I had to live through. Show my brother, who turned his back on me, the nightmare I lived while he pretended I didn’t exist and went on with his life like nothing happened.