Page 20 of Ash Fall

The man leans into it, refusing to get pushed back. The expression on his face is pure rage and spit flies from his lips when he yells, "Let me through! This bastard has been controlling us for days and he deserves to get what's coming to him!"

Alrighty then. As long as it's not my people that are his target, he's free to dish out whatever revenge he wants as far as I'm concerned. I drop my hands and let the air dissipate.

He only makes it a few more steps before Torrin raises his hand and says, "Wait."

Fuck, he doesn't look good. There's a thin line of blood running from his nose over his lips and Gage is definitely holding him up at this point.

Torrin looks at the man in front of him on his knees and slowly shakes his head. He sounds tired and sort of sad but without the power that rang through it before.

"Did you think this made you strong? Do you really, honestly feel like this is strength? Beating a child and a woman, killing your wife? Controlling all of these men, taking away their free will, all so that you could play king? That is not power. You're just a small, small man and you deserve whatever they do to you for what you did. I hope you rot in hell."

He studies the man in front of him as his words trigger a memory in me and I realize in shock that this man is Torrin's father. When Gage and Luna start leading him away, I decide we've waited long enough, and our group rushes towards them as I call out her name.

"Luna!"

She drops Torrin's arm as she spins around with a look of excitement on her face and she runs towards us, meeting us halfway. Reid steps up beside me and we meet her in a clash of arms as we wrap her up and pull her against us. Her small hands clutch at us as she sobs our names, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to let her go again.

Her voice is choked against my neck when she says, "I was so scared. I didn't know where you were or what had happened. When we still had news reports I heard about what happened in Vancouver. Thank God you both made it back to me."

She's sandwiched between the two of us with Reid at her back, but I lean back far enough to tilt up her chin to see her pretty green eyes.

"Silly girl, you know that there's nothing on this earth that would keep us from getting back to you."

She gives a quick nod as I wipe the tears from her face and then looks over her shoulder to rest her head against Reid's.

"I know, but it was hard to believe until right this moment that I would ever see you again."

A slim hand settles on my shoulder and gives me a quick tug. Even though I don't want to, I know I'm not the only one here that needs to connect with her. Reluctantly I let her go and step to the side.

Relief fills Luna's face when she sees Gigi and Kara, and it makes me smile. The three most important women in my life come together in hugs, tears, and a little bit of laughter.

Gage, Torrin, and the asshole walk up to us, with Gage giving us both back slaps in greeting.

"I'm glad to see you guys made it back in one piece."

I smirk at him. "Did you ever doubt it?"

He gives me a small shove while scoffing a laugh. "Not for one second. You're too much of a dick not to make it."

He reaches out and gives Reid's shoulder a squeeze and a nod before turning to look at the three women who are still holding on to each other. "We should..."

Yelling breaks out from the soldiers, cutting him off. We all turn to see Torrin's father being lifted into the air even though no one has their hands on him. A blast of what looks like lightning slams into him again and again, and his entire body jerks and flails up in the air.

Looks like the men he's been controlling are handling his punishment, so I meet Gage's eyes and tilt my head towards the gates. It's time for us to get out of here before we get caught up in anything that might pose a danger to Luna and the others.

He gives me a knowing look of agreement and reaches out to herd the girls towards the gate. As we start to walk away, the asshole steps up next to Reid and me and gives us a side eye.

"It's good to see you guys. I'm glad you're here safe."

I'd like nothing more than to pound my fist into his face, but I know this isn't the time or the place for it. Instead, I just growl out, "Fuck off," and keep walking.

I catch his low "Jesus," but then I hear Kara say, "What did you expect, Mars? You're just somebody we used to know," and I have to work to keep the smirk off my face.

As we all walk through the gate I reach back, grab Luna's hand, and pull her forward between Reid and me, right where she fucking belongs.

Chapter 8 - Reid

We've barely taken a few steps outside the gate when one of the soldiers starts yelling at us to hold up. We all come to a stop and turn back to see what new hell is about to hit us but the guy that jogs towards us doesn't look threatening at all. Gage walks out to meet him, and they talk for a few minutes before the soldier turns and heads back through the gate.