Silas stayed with me as I walked back to the cabin, furious with Luke. I couldn't even stream together a coherent thought whenever I thought about the shit he just pulled. If Sang weren't right there and I knew it was completely safe, I would still be back there, yelling at him. I couldn't lose Luke.
I focused on the cabin, ready for round two, no matter what it was. We were getting answers tonight. I was finally going to talk to Sang.
My heart ached at the possibilities of who she became. She was alway so young and innocent, so in love with the world around her when she was able to get out. The years I spent with her were some of my best memories, and also some of my worst.
It had hurt knowing I was too young to protect her from the abuse. It had hurt knowing I was forced to leave her behind while I grew up and found family, built a life with people who cared about me and made me proud to call them family. Did she have that? Was she stuck with people around her who only ever wanted to her hurt her. Has she ever found her escape?
I released my breath reminding me we were all eighteen now. Adults. We didn't need to worry about family obligations. I could finally take care of her, help her if she needed it. I would still help her even if she wasn't willing to accept my help.
When we were only a few feet from the porch steps, the massive oak door swung open. Both of us stopped and helded up our hands in a placating manner, not wanting to get shot at.
The man stepped forward with Sang at his side. The rifle was gone now but a handgun hung in his hand and he didn't hesitate to lift it up and point it at us.
"Shit," someone said into my ear but I ignored them.
He wasn't going to shoot.
I switched my focus to Sang to make sure she was okay. Her big green eyes were dark with worry and fear. She shifted on her feet, her hand going up to push her lip in like she did as a kid when she was nervous. She seemed to realize what she was doing and lowered her hand to her side. At some point, she took her hair out of the messy bun and now the blonde strands fell around her shoulders, down to the middle of her back.
My fingers twitched, wanting to run them through her hair like I did when we were kids. Her hair was always so soft and silky.
"Sommer was the shooter. We have her detained now," I said.
Sang eyed me for a long time before turning to the man next to her. "Put down your gun, Sander" Sang said to him. "He won't hurt us."
Again, her voice did funny things to me. Her accent was beautiful, her words so soft she could be mistaken for whispering.
"I don't know that," Sander replied, but he did lower it.
"Sang, I'm glad to see you again," I said softly.
Sander scowled even more at me because I ignored him. I continued to do so, staring at Sang, giving her all my attention. She was the one who mattered. I couldn't give a shit about the man. He didn't matter. He didn't exist in my world. Only Sang.
She took in a shuddering breath. "I never expected to see you again, definitely not like this."
I smirked.
"I said I would come back. I would protect you."
Her eyes hardened with memories.
"Well, a little too late," she said, her voice cold. I wanted to frown but I kept my expression the same. Friendly, happy. Okay, maybe not really friendly. I'd been told I have a scowly face.
"Am I?" I challenged her while also letting her know I wasn't late. We could still help her if she would just let us.
Her eyes twinkled for a moment before she blinked a couple of times. "How do I know you're really him?" she asked.
"Will you let me come closer?" I asked.
She nodded and I eyed Sander and his twitching arm. He did not like this situation one bit and wanted to point his gun at me. I could see it in his eyes. The shootout didn't help with his emotions either. I wanted to ask about who he was and what his relationship to Sang Baby was, but it wasn't my place to question who she spent time with. Even if I was curious on how she became friends with a man who belonged in a gang.
"Far enough," Sander growled when I was halfway up the steps.
I stopped and cocked an eyebrow at Sang who frowned at Sander. She finally focused those wonderful eyes on me and I realized I was beginning to starve for her attention, for her to gaze at me.
I removed the leather jacket I was wearing and tossed it to Silas who caught it without a word. I wore a dark grey tank top underneath and yanked the cloth near my shoulder to the side to show her that I've never forgotten her, that she has always been on my mind.
The tattoo was of the North Star. Thick and thin lines weaved together to make the eight-pointed star and then in the middle was the letter S in a fancy script writing. The tattoo was about the size of my hand, inked in black. I got it the very day I turned eighteen and didn't need parental permission. The design was created by Gabe since he was the only one I trusted to come up with something that wasn't shitty. He went beyond my expectations.
There was a sharp intake of breath and I knew Sang recognized what that tattoo meant. I had mentioned it once in passing, of getting a tattoo, to brand myself for her, to tell the world I was her's. Of course, it was a child's promise and something parents would roll their eyes at or call it a cute idea. But I was serious and I proved to her how serious.
She knew it was a risky move to make, especially since we never knew where life would take us. I could have fallen in love with someone else after getting the tattoo and then having to explain to them the meaning of the tattoo, how I had another female's brand on me. I snickered at the thought. I never so much as looked at other girls growing up. It has always been Sang.
"That's..." she whispered.
I nodded.
"And you?"
"As soon as I turned eighteen."
Her lips made an O shape as she stared at my face and then back to the tattoo. She kept flickering back and forth between the tattoo and me. I smiled.
"But...why?"
My smile widened. "I told you I would protect you. I would always be there for you."
"And you came back?"
I nodded.
"And I came back. As soon as I could."
Her eyes watered at my admission and for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be alright.

YOU ARE READING
Finding A Ghost (Completed)
FanfictionNow that North Taylor is eighteen and in a stable environment with the Blackbourne team, he decides it's time to go back overseas and to find the one person he wanted to save the most when he was just a little boy. Sang Sorenson. **Characters are ba...