That’s the center.Everything else orbits that fact until gravity gives out.Reyes and his twisted leverage will have to wait.A little girl is gone, and the longer she’s gone, the worse the odds get.
I press harder on the gas, watch the needle climb.
The ranch comes into view.Miles later, my own place.
I feel like an intruder.Like I don’t deserve the safety waiting at the end of that driveway.
I pull off the road before I reach it, easing under a stand of oaks.For a moment I just sit there, gripping the wheel, staring at the dirt lane stretching ahead.
What the hell am I doing?
Reyes has my blood.My DNA.My mistake in a vial.He could end me whenever he wants, and I walked right into it.I should’ve known better than to go back there, should’ve known better than to think I could fix this alone.
But what choice did I have?
Daniela’s life was in danger.
I close my eyes, picturing her face the last time I saw her—anger and worry twisted together.She doesn’t trust me anymore.Can’t say I blame her.I wouldn’t trust me either, not after everything I’ve done.
But I want to earn her trust back.Not by begging for it.By proving I can still be the man she thought I was.
That starts with finding Belinda.
I dig out my phone and hit her name.She picks up on the second ring.
“Hawk?”
Just hearing her say my name lands like a punch to the ribs.“Yeah.It’s me.”
“Where the hell have you been?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Try me.”
“I handled it,” I say finally.“Reyes and I came to an understanding.”
“An understanding?”Her voice goes sharp.“What does that even mean?”
“It means he’s not going to the cops, and I’m not either.”
“You cut a deal with him?”
“Something like that.”
“Hawk—” Her voice cracks.“Do you hear yourself?You can’t make deals with monsters and think they’ll keep their word.”
“I didn’t have another option.”
“There’s always another option,” she snaps.
I drag a hand through my hair.“Look, I didn’t call to fight.I need to know what’s happening there.Any word about Belinda?”
A beat of silence.Then, “I’m at Chef Charleston’s house.”
That catches me off guard.“What?Your culinary school teacher?Why?”
“Belinda stayed here for a sleepover the other night.Gwen’s house.We think she met with someone that night.”
