Free Annihilate (Hive Trilogy Book 3) by Jaymin Eve, Leia Stone Page B

company.
    “I’ll keep an eye on Oliver,” I said, and all of a sudden Jayden’s eyes were leaking. He turned quickly and pulled me into a bone crushing hug.
    “I love you, Charlie Bennett. You’re the best thing that happened to me.”
    Now my damn eyes were leaking! I didn’t like that he was saying goodbye; it was like we were back in the culling all over again. “Jayden, there are no words for what you mean to me.”
    He pulled away then and wiped his eyes.
    “Now for some good news,” he told me, and I raised one eyebrow.
    My BAFF was bubbling over with excitement now and it had to be something good to change his mood so quickly.
    He squealed. “Oliver just asked me to marry him, so after all this shit goes down … will you be my best man?”
    My jaw dropped and laughter erupted out of me, along with pure joy. My eyes were filling again. “Of course I will!” We hugged for the second time and the moment was perfect. It gave us all something to look forward to, a happy event on the horizon. I would make a damn good best man.
     
    The rest of the day passed rather quickly. The boys were planning every detail of how to get us to California and get word into the Hive to draw this guy’s brother out. Sam and Becca were taking runs of equipment up to the secluded cabin. She was relieved that Lupita’s family promised to keep an eye on the main lab, although she made them promise to lay low and avoid all strangers. She was going to be hard at work on the cure; we all decided that we’d bring her vamp test subjects back with us from the California Hive. Should give her enough time to have something to test.
    I was sitting in the kitchen watching Jayden. He was busy cooking banana nut muffins to see us off with.
    When the true darkness of night washed away the twilight it was time to say goodbye to Jayden and Becca. They were heading to the secluded cabin now; the sexy six and I would sleep one more night here and then take the chopper to Canada at the break of day tomorrow. Or whatever sprinkle of low light was masquerading as daybreak in this part of the world. Alaska was not only freezing, it was perpetually dark. Jayden was all packed up, his bags taking up the majority of the space in their snowmobile.
    I was really just grateful that they would be safe there and that Becca would have the company of my best friend.
    Jared, Markus, and Kyle said goodbye and then set out to patrol with the night vision goggles – scout around to make sure Becca and Jayden weren’t followed. Sam, Ryder, and I helped with their final bags, and Oliver and Jayden shared a sweet kiss in the corner of the outbuilding, saying goodbye.
    Becca entered the room then, dragging a cooler behind her, and Sam met my eyes. Kiss her, you fucking idiot ! I wanted to shout at him. But he just pursed his lips and then stalked over to take the cooler off her hands, barely making eye contact with her. Ryder was fiddling with his walkie-talkie as I crossed the large area and stood next to him.
    “What’s Sam’s deal?” I whispered.
    Ryder glanced over his shoulder at Sam, who was strapping down the water cooler, Becca watching him with sad eyes.
    Ryder looked back at me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “He was a prisoner of war. They tortured him within an inch of his life, trying to ferret out secrets. Sam’s always been good at keeping secrets. He never broke, not even once.”
    Oh fuck. I knew Sam had issues but I didn’t know it was that bad. Jesus.
    Ryder looked proud of his friend. “He held out through the worst torture you can imagine. They were just about to kill him when the war ended and he was rescued. But it was already too late. He was a changed man and soon after turned ash. Now, even more so, he keeps secrets and is afraid to care too deeply. He would die if someone took Becca or targeted her just because of their relationship. The thing with Lupita’s family was a huge reminder of that.”
    Shit. Knowing how loyal and