“Yes, what?”I say more indignantly than I mean to.
“I spoke to the Charleston family.Gwen’s at home.They haven’t seen Belinda.”
Exactly what Raven said.But I don’t say so.“Okay.Thank you.”
“We’ve issued a BOLO.”He holds my gaze.“We’re treating this as a missing juvenile.We’ll escalate if we find evidence of an abduction.”
My pulse roars in my ears.“You will,” I say.
He nods.“We’re here.”
Hours stretch.Minutes snap.The house becomes a scene and a refuge and a trap all at once.
At some point, I slip into the kitchen and grip the edge of the counter until my knuckles ache.I breathe in, hold it.Out.In again.Out.For ten seconds, I continue.
In those ten seconds I make promises.
To Belinda—I will find you.I will not stop.
To myself—I will not run.I will not freeze.I will fight.
To the chef—You won’t get away with this.I’m a different person now.
To Hawk—I love you, but fuck you.
I square my shoulders.
This may not end well for me.
But itwillend well for Belinda.And that’s all that matters.
43
HAWK
I’mat Eagle’s bedside.He’s in and out of sleep, until he opens his eyes wide and stares at me.
“You’re still here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He sighs.“You don’t believe me.”
“About what?”
“About the overdose.That I was injected.”He swallows, winces.“But I swear, Hawk.I know my limits.I’ve never OD’d.Not once.I don’t play with death.I play with the edge.”A bitter smile.“I step back before I fall.”
“Easy,” I say.
He keeps going, the words tripping now.“Whoever did this wanted me gone.Wanted you distracted.Wanted me quiet.”
“Eagle…”
“I didn’t relapse,” he snaps, too loud.The alarm chirps.“I don’t want to fucking die.”
The beeping spikes.The door swings open and a nurse enters.“Mr.Bellamy, you need to breathe.”She checks the monitor, checks his IV.“Your heart rate’s climbing.”
“I’m fine,” he lies.
