Page 200 of After the Burn

“I remember what a sweet little girl she was, always following you around.” His eyes filled with sorrow. “She always talked too much.”

A broken laugh escaped me. “You thought everyone talked too much.”

“I’ve got his back on this one.” Lucas bumped my hip. “I had her in class, and she never shut up.” His voice was full of affection.

“She cheated on the last test you gave.” I laughed quietly. “She was so proud of herself.”

My laugh turned into a sob before I could stop it, and Ben looked away… but not before I saw the slight sheen of tears in his eyes.

Beck rubbed his hand slowly up and down my back. “She noticed me watching you at a football game,” he said, smiling faintly. “She kept glancing at me like she was deciding whether I was going to murder you or kidnap you.”

“She had good instincts.” Adrian smiled slightly, walking up behind me and dropping a soft kiss on my head.

Lila slammed against the fence again. No recognition on her face whatsoever.

I really hoped that if we could find a place for Finley to experiment with our blood, he could find a way to kill this fucking virus.

Wren stood tucked beneath Colson’s arm, tears running silently down her cheeks. I imagined that the sane part of her recognized that this could’ve been the real Robin’s fate too.

Behind Lila, the other turned women moved restlessly, clawing at the fencing, desperate for the taste of flesh.

Women who had names—families. People who might still be alive and looking for them.

I saw Ben glance towards the other rotters moving inside the pen, then signal two of his people.

A man and a woman approached the enclosure, neither spoke a word. But one by one, they put the other women down through the fencing.

It was quick, clean, and merciful. The snarling and moaning faded until only Lila remained. Ben’s people stepped back without being told and disappeared into the darkness of the compound.

I stepped closer.

My men moved with me: Beck’s hand at the small of my back, Lucas holding my hand, Adrian’s palm on the back of my neck.

Three reminders that I wasn’t doing this alone.

Lila snapped at me through the fence.

Memories flooded my mind: Lila sitting beside me at lunch, Lila in my bedroom doing homework, Lila giving one of the twins her last drink of water, and Lila walking with me to rescue Beck and Adrian.

She had been my friend, and I loved her. I just never knew how to say it.

“I came for you,” I whispered.

Lila snarled.

“I know that doesn’t mean shit now. I should’ve told you how much you…” My voice broke.

Beck’s hand rubbed gently in circles. “Told her what, Fox?”

I stared at my friend as my eyes filled. “That she mattered.”

Lucas squeezed my hand. “She knew.”

I shook my head. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

I looked at him, hoping he could convince me.