“We move both witnesses before sunrise.”
“No.”
My voice came instantly.
Isabel’s came right after mine.
“No.”
Everyone looked at us.
The poor girl looked startled she’d spoken at all.
Then slowly?—
her shoulders straightened.
Tiny bit.
Tiny brave thing.
“I’m tired of running too.”
Something inside me cracked quietly.
Because she sounded exactly like I had months ago.
Before fear hollowed me out.
Ava rubbed one hand over her forehead. “I understand that, but?—”
“No,” Isabel whispered shakily. “You don’t.”
Silence.
The girl’s hands trembled hard in her lap.
“My aunt kept saying they’d protect us.” Her voice broke apart. “And now she’s gone.”
Nobody spoke.
Because there wasn’t anything to say to that.
The storm outside rolled louder.
Thunder shaking the windows again.
Hersh moved closer to me slowly.
Carefully.
Like he already knew I was barely holding together.
His hand settled lightly against my shoulder.
Simple touch.
Steady touch.
