3
HAWK
Everythingshe just told me sits in my head, and because it’s what I do, I form a mental list.
Belinda, gone.
A note typed, not written.
Homeland Security showing up with deportation paperwork.
No answer from me.
That last one slices right into my gut.
“I didn’t know,” I finally say.“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry.You’ve said that.”She looks down.“It doesn’t change anything.It doesn’t bring Belinda home.”
The words hit harder than they should.“That’s not fair.”
“Neither is any of this,” she snaps.“None of it’s fair, Hawk.She’s a child.She trusted us.And now—” Her lips tremble.
“Dani—”
“Don’t.”She shakes her head.“I’m not ready for… Oh, I don’t even know what I mean!”
Silence once more.
I take a slow breath, making mental lists again because nothing else makes sense to me.
That’s what I’ve always done.
Only this time, the math doesn’t balance.
Too many fires in twenty-four hours.
Eagle waking up.
Reyes disappearing, taking with him the code to his safe.
Daniela’s immigration case unraveling out of nowhere.
Now Belinda.
And I can’t shake the thought that maybe I did this.I broke everything because I dared to take one night off from saving everyone else.
One night with her.
One night where I let the world burn quietly while I pretended it couldn’t reach us.
Daniela finally turns back to me.“Say something that helps,” she whispers.
I nod once.“I will.”
“Now.”
“I’m going to find her.”
