Gage said, his breathing heavy, his chest heaving. He struggled out of the backpacks he’d been shouldering and bent at the waist trying to catch his breath. Everything that she’d been running from crashed into her. “This can’t be happening. Why?” She gasped as the pain of Nadia’s loss cut through her. “Why her? She never hurt anybody.”Gage pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Tern.” He kissed her forehead. Then he was helping her to sit on the ground as her body crumbled in on itself with grief.Just last night she’d lain next to Nadia while Nadia begged for forgiveness. She’d gone to her death thinking Tern hated her. Another series of sobs racked her body. What were the last words she’d spoke to her? They came crashing back with sharp clarity. Right now you need to stay the hell away from me.If they’d stayed at the cabin, like Nadia had wanted to, she’d still be with them. Robert crashed through the bushes. “I scared off the motherfucker. Guy tucked tail and scurried back into the trees like the coward he was.
