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And then he was sobbing and Michael caught him, holding him tight.
“I’m sorry,” Michael was saying. “I’m sorry.”
Hunter let himself have about fifteen seconds of pity. Then he shoved free of Michael’s hands and swiped the tears off his face.
He didn’t want pity. He didn’t want anything.
His fists were clenched at his sides, and he suspected he’d completely lose control if he let go.
“We need to move,” Michael said quietly.
“I’m not just leaving her here.”
“Hunter—”
“I’m not just leaving her to get eaten by insects and wild animals.” His voice was shaking with fury. “Do you understand me? So either get a shovel out of your truck or I’ll dig by hand.”
“No shovel,” said Michael.
“Fine.” Hunter took a step forward.
Michael caught his arm. “I’ll take care of it. Just give me a minute.”
Then he knelt in the dirt and put a hand against the ground.
He was right: it only took a minute. The earth just swallowed her up, gradually at first, her body sinking into the dirt as if the ground was simply giving way. But then the hole began to fill in over her, grass and foliage growing back into place.
As if nothing had happened.
Hunter stared. He’d thought this would be better—but it was worse. He needed the action, the physicality of digging a hole. He needed the closure.
This was more like erasure. He dropped to his knees and touched a hand to the ground.
The last twenty-four hours had gone too fast. From mistrust to friendship to—to what? He felt like he’d almost caught something precious, only to have it shatter as soon as he touched it.
He knew better than anyone how life could change in the blink of an eye.
But this—this seemed too unfair. His throat tightened and made it hard to breathe again.
He had nothing to remember her. Nothing. Not even a picture. He didn’t even have her texts on his cell phone.
The phone.
He fished her phone out of his pocket. What had Silver said?
I’d say the idiotic move was turning on your cell phone.
He’d been tracking her. Hunter turned it off.
But he put it back in his pocket.
She’d mentioned sacrifice. She’d done this for him, lost her life to protect him.
Well, hell if he was going to let that go to waste.
He looked up at Michael. He couldn’t talk.
So he just stood up and started walking.
