Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

23. Trent

TWENTY-THREE

TRENT

LOS ANGELES, SIXTEEN YEARS AGO

A gentle hand stroked through his hair, spurring him from sleep. The faintest rays of light bled through his bedroom window, and Trent blinked his eyes open as he rolled over to find his mom gazing down at him. Her voice was so soft as she whispered, “Are you ready, Sweet Warrior? It’s time.”

Trent’s heart jumped into overdrive, and he shot up in his bed and scrubbed his palms over his face. “It is? Where are we going?”

“Somewhere far, far away. Somewhere no one will find us. Somewhere we can be free. Are you ready?”

He nodded hard. “Yes.”

“Help me get your brothers.”

Gulping, he tossed back his covers and stood. His mom left the room to get Jud and Logan, while he moved across to where Nathan’s bed was on the opposite side. He nudged him softly on the shoulder. “Nathan, hey, wake up.”

His brother stirred. His dark eyes that were the same color as Trent’s were full of confusion as they blinked open. “What’s wrong?”

Trent’s chest squeezed so tight. With so much love. His mom said they had a special bond. That they could feel each other even when the other wasn’t there.

He thought it was true. The way he felt his brother’s heartrate speed up faster. The way he felt his worry and fear take him over.

Nathan was smaller than Trent. Kinder and softer in a way that made Trent sure he would always need to look out for him. Stand up for him when some asshole started making trouble, way the pricks always did at school.

“Nothing’s wrong. We’re just going to take a special trip.”

Nathan’s eyes went wide with excitement. “Like…to Disneyland?”

“Better’n that.”

Nathan scrambled to get up, grabbing his inhaler from the nightstand next to him, taking a real big puff. “I just gotta get my shoes.”

Trent already had them. He set Nathan’s favorite sneakers and a pair of socks down in front of him. Leaving them there, he moved to stuff a bunch of their things into a duffle bag.

“Why are we bein’ so quiet?” Nathan asked from behind.

“’cause no one else is allowed to know where we’re goin’.”

Alarm burned through the space. Pummeling Trent’s back. Slowly, Trent turned around as his twin asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, this isn’t a good place, and we’re gonna go somewhere I can take care of you. You and Mom and Jud and Logan. Where it’s only goin’ to be the five of us.”

Nathan gulped.

Trent squeezed his shoulder. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’m always gonna take care of you.”

Gunshots.

One.

Two.

Three.

A scream tore up his throat, and he went racing across the lawn. To his mom. His beautiful mom. She was covered in blood.

So much blood.

So much blood.

He turned her over.

Her hair was matted in it, soaked, her eyes full of fear. He pulled her onto his lap and rocked her.

Rocked her and rocked her while he begged, “No, Mom, no. Don’t leave us. Don’t leave us.”

Her fingers found his face, the words barely heard over the gurgling in her throat. “My sweet warrior. Watch over your brothers. Take care of them. Love them with all your might.”

“No, Mom. We need you here. Please. Please.” He begged it.

Torment rode out with his cries. Tears stung his eyes, blurring everything.

But still, he could see. He watched the man get back on his motorcycle like it was just another day. A man with the leather vest that said Demon’s Day on the patch on the back.

“Promise me,” she wheezed.

He nodded fiercely, and the tears burned so hot as they streaked down his face. “I promise. I promise.”

“Love you forever, my brave boy.”

He felt when she left them. When her spirit flew away. When her body slumped down and the crater formed in the middle of his chest.

A sob tore free. So loud as it burst against the morning sky. Deafening as the anger rushed to fill its place.

Sirens sounded in the distance, and he had to force himself to move. To get up. To go to his brothers who were huddled behind the car, Jud covering Nathan and Logan like he could be their protection.

Trent stumbled that way.

The ground no longer existed as his world canted to the side.

Nothing made sense except for the rage that burned through his veins.

He dropped to his knees in front of them, and he covered them like he’d promised his mom. Praying he could be brave. That he could be enough. That he would do it right.

“What did it say?” his father snarled as he leaned in front of Trent, demanding the answer.

That anger raged at his insides.

Dark and ugly and vile.

Twelve hours had passed. The four of them were at their father’s house. About the last place Trent wanted to be. But this was their lot.

“What did it say?” his father demanded again.

Trent knew he would never forget. Would never erase the memory of that man.

His stomach sick and his soul slayed and vengeance carved on his flesh.

“Demon’s Day.”