Page 53 of Symphony for Lies

That didn’t mean we weren’t being watched, though. The thought alone made my skin crawl.

Zane hung up the phone, stuffed it into his pocket, and did something unexpected.He wrapped his arms around me.

Strong. Secure.

I went rigid from shock, and for just a second, everything else faded.

There was no fear. No uncertainty. Just warmth.

“I’m here,” he whispered.His voice was softer than usual. Gentler.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wanting to push him away. Not because it was uncomfortable but because it wasn’t.

His warmth unsettled me more than anything else.It made me feel safe, but that scared me, too.

The kids clung tighter to us, and I belatedly remembered Simon still had blood on his hands.

I took a shaky breath and pulled away, ignoring the way my skin tingled where Zane had touched me.

“Come on, Simon,” I said, forcing stability into my voice. “Let’s wash your hands.”

I led him to the faucet in the middle of the schoolyard, and Zane and Jade followed us silently. The poor boy was still terrified, so I guided his shaking hands under the stream of water and watched the dark red stains swirl down the drain.

“Just shake your hands off. Let them air dry,” I instructed Simon before turning to Jade.“Are you getting picked up soon?”

“No. I always walk home alone.”

I frowned.“Your parents must be worried.”

She shook her head.“My mom works late, and I don’t have a dad.” Her voice was steady, matter of fact. Not sad or bitter, just stating a simple truth.

It struck something in me. She is too strong for her age andtooused to being alone. “Okay. I’ll walk you home.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Of course.”

Relief washed over her face as if she had been carrying a silent burden.

The sharp, piercing wails of sirens cut through the night air as two police cars pulled up to the school entrance, their blue and red lights illuminating the area.

Three officers stepped out. Among them was Spencer.

The moment I saw him, my chest instantly felt lighter.

Chapter 14

Spencer’s gaze swept across the schoolyard. The moment he saw me, he ran up to me, scanning my body as if to check for injuries. “Amelia! Are you alright?”

“I-we’re fine.”

He exhaled a breath of relief.Even in the dim schoolyard lights, I could see the shadows under his eyes, which were darker than they were earlier in the day.

“You’ve had a long shift,” I muttered.

A small, tired smile flickered across his lips.“I was actually about to head home. But I caught the call on my radio, and since it was on my way, I decided to check in.” His eyes shifted to Zane and the kids, assessing them quickly before focusing back on me.

“I’m the one who called,” Zane interjected with a hint of irritation.His critical, calculating focus drifted to Spencer’s hand resting on my arm.

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