Page 89 of Sharing Silence

Silence stares at me with an almost lifeless expression. Her eyes are red rimmed, dark circles more prominent in the daylight. The cut looks painful, and maybe it’s pointless to try and clean ourselves up when it looks like we’ve been through a war.

“Ready?” I ask, and when she nods, we get out of the car.

The morning commuters are too busy to notice anyone other than themselves and the announcements board, so, apart from a few concerned looks, we pass through relatively unnoticed. The storage lockers are side by side, and when I open mine and Yale’s, I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Yale was here,” I say. “His bag is gone and so is Bullet’s.”

Silence smiles. “So he’s okay?”

“Yeah.” I take mine out, slam the locker, then open hers and Zayden’s. My shoulders dip, but I try to mask my disappointment.

“Is Zayden’s gone, too?”

I fight the tightness in my chest. “No.”

A few seconds pass, ones I should fill with reassurance but can’t. “Maybe he’s on his way.”

Grabbing her bag and closing the locker, I nod. “He will be.”

An hour later, we’re two towns over. After leaving the car under a bridge and a twenty-minute walk, we finally reach an apartment block. We own the building under a shell corporation and have one floor kitted out for emergencies, and the rest of the properties are empty.

Hand in hand, we take the elevator to the top floor. I’m the one who found and bought this place, and I made the purchase based on how secure it is—it’s remote, it’s quiet, but it’s also kitted out with heavy security. It’s safe. I know it is. But even after I take the key out of the lockbox, I pause.

Because what if it isn’t? What if Ryker knows exactly where we are?

What if Yale got here and Ryker took him?

What if Yale didn’t even get this far?

“Are you okay?” Silence whispers, squeezing my hand gently.

No, I’m not. I need Z. I need his confidence, because I’m clearly fucking useless at taking charge.

“I’m fine.” I unlock the door.

Bullet barks.

Silence rushes forward just as Yale appears from the kitchen. She lets out a sob and runs to him, throwing herself into his arms.

“Fuck, you’re both okay,” he whispers, cradling the back of her head.

“Zayden?” I ask, but Yale shakes his head slowly. “He’s not here?”

“Not yet,” Silence reminds me.

Yeah. Not yet.

Chapter 28

Xavier

Icrouch and stroke Bullet’s head. He wiggles happily, tongue out, nudging my cheek with his nose. “Should’ve known you’d come out unscathed.” This dog is invincible.

When I stand, Yale hugs me. “You okay?”

I hold onto him, closing my eyes as I allow myself to accept that he’s really here. He’s alive. He’s okay. “Yeah. You?”

“I will be when we’re all back together.”