Page 23 of Haunted Hearts

“All right, we have our heading.” I attempt my best enthusiastic voice.

“Was that a Pirates of the Caribbean reference?” she asks, raising a brow.

“I was bored after you fell asleep. I liked it,” I reply and she laughs.

I drive for about a mile into the nature preserve—Calli absorbed in her new book the entire time—before finally finding a decent spot of gravel to park. We both hop out and Calli comes around to clasp her fingers in mine. I’ve never seen her like this. So carefree and happy.

“Thank you for this.” She gazes up at me. “You’re kind of amazing, you know that?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, sweetheart. How do you know I didn’t bring you out here to take advantage of you?” I ask in a serious tone.

“I don’t think I would mind.” Her look is full of what I can only describe as trust.

I pause. My chest beginning to feel heavy. Gods, I love her.

I fucking love her.

Fuck the cult, fuck Alok, and fuck the rules. No one will take that smile from her face, no one will hurt her, not while I exist. She snaps me out of my thoughts when she jerks my hand.

“This way! I know a spot.” She pulls me in the direction of the trees off the path.

“How the hell do you know a spot? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

She doesn’t answer, but I know it’s Jack again. But right now I don’t give a fuck. She’s here, with me.

And Jack is stuffed away in his own head. He’s no threat.

Calli guides me to a small, unmarked path and we walk for about a half mile, just taking everything in, until we get to a lake.

“Pretty, though we seem to be quite a ways off the path.”

“Yeah, so?” She giggles. “It’s beautiful here.”

“It is.” We lock eyes and I begin to slowly circle around. “Good place to get lost, too.” I look down at her with a mischievous smile.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m something to eat.”

“Oh, but you are.”

“I’m not,” she says with false bravado.

“You are what I say you are, and right now, pretty girl… you look like a snack.” I smirk at her and tilt my head. “Run.”

Her eyes widen before she bolts into the trees, disappearing into the brush. I stand there, giving her a head start. This body isn’t as fast as I am used to, but I’m fast enough. I close my eyes and listen for her.

It doesn’t take me long to catch up to her. I keep myself hidden behind a large tree as she gasps for breath, and I wait for the right moment before lunging at her. I grip her wrist and wrap my arm around her neck.

Her screams echo through the forest—but all that does is make my heart pound harder, wanting her more. I grab her wrists and force her to the ground. She looks up at me.

“You caught me. Now what?” She absolutely knows what she does to me.

My lips crash into hers, tongue tangling with hers as she bites down. I groan, grinding into her. When I hear a twig snap, my head jerks to the side.

“Wha—”