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Prologue

The sky was jet-black No stars No ive them away Tyler Benson led the way to the top of the cliffs with Lilly by his side Daniel Hunter, their best friend, lagged behind

Lilly held on to Ty’s hand, every once in a while giving it a squeeze, showing her fear

Otherwise Ty would think this was just another of their adventures He knew better

Soon, he would start the car, slam it into Drive and then jump out before it toppled off the cliff into the murky quarry waters below Afterward, Lilly Du Her uncle’s car would be found at the bottom of the lake Or it wouldn’t be found at all No body would ever be recovered Lilly would head for New York , take the new name the three of theain

All so Lilly wouldn’t have to leave the safety of Ty’s mother’s foster home and return to her bastard uncle for more abuse She was only seventeen She wouldn’t survive a month let alone a year if she returned to her uncle The ht

“Hurry up, Daniel!” Lilly called back to Hunter, breaking the silence She was probably afraid he’d lose them in the dark

“It’s Hunter,” their friend and foster brother h for them to hear

Ty grinned Once Ty had told hi him

“Danny Boy” and Hunter quit trying to beat the crap out of anyone who got in his face Hunter and Ty were like real brothers and Ty looked out for his own Hunter did the same, which hy Hunter stayed back now, so Ty could have these last few minutes alone with Lilly

The girl they both loved

Hunter had never said as h She was so damn innocent despite her attitude and that hat irlfriend but they were so

Too bad they’d never have tiure out just what that was

The locket he’d bought her burned a hole in his pocket He’d got it so she wouldn’t forget him

Ever His stomach cramped and he halted suddenly

Lilly bu? We aren’t there yet”

Ty sed hard “I just wanted to give you soh he knew nobody was around to hear

Hunter, who understood what Ty had planned, waited somewhere behind them

Ty shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out the sold heart A hot flush washed over hi it was dark and she couldn’t see his burning cheeks

“Here,” he iving the gift

Lilly accepted the tiny locket Though it was hard to see, she turned it over in her hand, studying it for so long Ty shifted unco for her reaction

“It’s beautiful,” she finally said, a catch in her voice

He exhaled his relief “I…” Ty wasn’t a guy of many words and he didn’t knohat to say now

“I know” As always, she stepped in, reading and easing his mind She clasped the heart in one hand and threw her arht

He sed her back, pulling her soft body against his Too h him at the same time

All the things they’d never do or get to say to each other passed between them in this one final touch