“Kameron, baby, come back to me!” Lilith’s voice cuts through the dense fog surrounding me. It frightens me, causing me to throw my body up from where I had been laying on the bed. I dart my gaze around the room, familiarizing myself with where I am. The sun has partially begun to set, the room much dimmer now than how it was when we had first laid down.
“I’m sorry.” I sigh, rubbing my palm down my face. My past has dug its way from the grave, and is determined to drag me back down with it. The flashbacks are becoming more common, a couple a day. Most of the time it seems I’m able to hide them fairly well, but the idea of hurting anyone again haunts me.
“It’s okay. You’re okay,” she coos, rubbing her small hand down my bare chest. Her touch sends heat coursing through my veins. It sparks a flame in me, reminding me that I’m here andalive.
“What time is it?” I question as I start to rub her shoulder, using a bit of pressure to entice her to lay down. Her soft, silky hair falls gently over my biceps.
“Almost six.”
“Do you remember what time Leah and Josiah are supposed to be home?”
Her soft lips press against my skin, kissing me gently before she responds. “I think Leah told me six thirty, but I’m not entirely sure.”
I pull at her until she’s laying over the top of me. “We don’t have much time then.”
“Time for what?” Lilith giggles out, lightly grinding down against my pelvic bone. I groan, annoyance dousing the erection growing underneath her.
“Unfortunately not that, baby.” She huffs at me, crossing her arms over her full breasts. “We need to go over the plan. We head out tomorrow.” I watch as the fear pours down onto her,her eyes becoming slightly wider, her bottom lip finding a place between her teeth. It pains me to see my Sinner like this, but we’re almost done. All of this will be worth it when I know she can be truly free.
“Josiah is able to disconnect The Garden’s security system for a short period of time. He has also offered up a few weapons they have been keeping.”
Lilith nods, giving herself a moment to grasp on. “And then we go in and what? Besides finding Adam. Because that needs to be top priority, right?”
“Of course. Once we have secured Adam, our only target is Elijah. Apollyon doesn’t have another heir. Without him, the facilities will fall under the ownership of the states.”
She slides her body back down onto the bed next to me, staring at me with those beautiful gray eyes. I watch the question grow behind her eyes, it sits at the tip of her tongue almost as if she’s nervous to ask. “What you got, Lilith?” I question.
“Do you think he’s alive?”
The answer comes to me immediately. No. No, I don't think Adam is still alive. The Garden is too cruel. And once they found out Adam had no idea about what we would do next, he would be nothing but another person wasting resources. Lilith can sense my answer, thankfully saving me from having to say it out loud.
“If I could change it, I would. I would’ve kept us at the cabin. I would’ve-”
“Kameron,” she interrupts, moving upwards on the bed until she is only an inch or two from my face. “It’s not your fault.”
I frown at her, fighting with my inner demons, begging them to believe her. I crave the idea of finding solace in the truth. Her truth, anyways. I’m not sure if I’ll ever really believe it wasn’t my fault. But right now I can’t allow my emotions to cloud my thoughts. We need to get on top of all of this before it’s too late.The hourglass has been turned for much too long, and we’re on the last few grains of sand.
“Afterwards, we will be heading up to Seattle for a while. I have a friend there who is willing to help us.” I reach forward, taking her chin into my hand. “And before you even ask, Leah and Josiah will know where we are. I will never take her from you again, baby.”
She nuzzles into me, a blissful emotion passing through her. “Yet another thing that wasn’t your fault, Kameron.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Everything is loaded up in the van, baby. I’ve tried to let you sleep as long as I could but the sun will be rising soon.”
I groan and roll away from Kameron, knowing damn well I’m going to get up anyways. Leah and I had spent the night catching up some more and making hundreds of promises for our future. The lack of sleep has me feeling bitter, but I know it was worth it.
“Baby,” Kameron teases, tugging on the comforter I’m hiding under. “Wakey wakey.”
“I’m up, I’m up.” I grumble out. I slowly sit up in the bed, letting the rest of the sleep fall from my vision. He reaches out his hand, waiting for me to place mine into his. The moment I do, he gently tugs me to my feet. I don’t say a word as he helps me get dressed. Instead I take this moment of intimacy to admire how far we’ve come. Two broken pieces, unable to fit anywhere. Yet somehow together, we seamlessly become one.
Together, we walk out into the frigid air, and make our way over to the van. The old remnants of a painting company's logo coats the side of the white vehicle. It has its own marks from years of use aging it.
Kameron swings open the backdoors, and they squeak from their years of being unused. The lights inside switch on, illuminating the small handful of guns and a few cases of ammo. I gawk at the weapons, taking in the power each one holds. I’ve only shot a few in my life, and never once has it been to take a life. The idea scares me, but not as deeply as losing my life to The Garden again does.
“You don’t have to do this,” Kameron’s voice breaks me out of my trance. I look over to him, surprised by his words. His glare is full of sincerity, and a drop of grief. “I don’t want you to put your life in danger for someone you can’t trust. You deserve so much more than that Lilith.”
“What?” I straighten my posture, attempting to decide if I should be hurt or angry over his words. The stark contrast from the man he was five minutes ago compared to the man before me has my head spinning.
