Page 75 of Oliver
Ice crawled through my veins.
Ryan.
The church’s legal advisor. Davidson’s successor.
The same Ryan who terrorized me in high school. The same one who’s been lurking around Zahra, trying to hurt her again.
I forced myself to breathe.
"I believe Mr. Calloway is here this morning.” Linda smiled. “Would you like me to see if he’s available?"
"No." Too sharp. I forced a smile, softened my stance. "No, thank you. Things are…tense between us."
Her eyes lit with understanding. "Ahh. I won’t mention you stopped by."
"Appreciate it."
I walked out into the blinding sunlight, barely making it to my car before bile surged up my throat. I grabbed onto the hood, doubling over as I emptied what little contents I had in my stomach.
This was bigger than I thought.
Ryan, my parents, Davidson, Maryam. They weren’t just connected. They were the system.
And Zahra?
She wasn’t just a piece on the board. She was a pawn.
I swiped my sleeve across my mouth, breathing hard, pulse hammering in my ears.
My phone buzzed.
I pulled it out, expecting Emmet. Instead, an unknown number.
You don’t belong here.
A chill swept down my spine.
I swallowed hard, shoving the phone in my pocket, scanning the street. No one was watching. No onevisible, at least.
I needed to see Zahra.Now.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled into the familiar driveway, lungs tight.
If Zahra wasn’t at the hotel, she’d be here, at her parents’ home, the one place she’d always felt safe.
I parked but didn’t move, gripping the wheel.
How much did I tell her?
How much did I keep hidden?
Where was the line between protecting her and using her?
I didn't have answers, and the realization terrified me.
My phone buzzed again. Emmet. He’d gotten top marks on his latest exam.
I couldn’t let him down.
