Chapter 25 : Old Hits

Eden's POV

I shoot up in bed, breathless and in a heavy sheen of sweat. Hands brush my back, and I scream, feeling the intruder grab at me, pull a gun, and flinch his finger against the trigger. I flinch hard, my head hitting right into Ryder's.

He hisses a breath but still keeps his arms around me, Dante leaping out of bed and turning the nearest lamp on. I see them, and only them, coming to the embarrassing realization that it was only a nightmare.

I bury my face in Ryder's chest and cry harder. "I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry—"

"Hey, it's okay, baby," Ryder mumbles against my scalp. "Relax. Did you have a bad dream?"

I nod, a lump building in my throat.

Dante finds my hand, squeezing it tenderly while he takes a seat beside me in bed. "It's okay, kitten. It's going to be alright. You're safe with us."

I can't help but think of Sal, of the intruder, and of death being such a heavy presence in their lives.

And my life now, too.

Ryder's phone rings after a long, heavy pa