“I’ll be right outside,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she says, though her voice is small.
I step into the hallway, pulling the door partially closed behind me.
“What?”I ask, already on edge.
Chux doesn’t waste time.“We found the truck.”
My blood goes cold.“Where?”
“Abandoned lot off Route 9.No prints, no plates, no identifiers.Tires slashed.Burned inside.”
Someone covering their tracks.
“Motherfucker,” I hiss.
Chux nods grimly.“They don’t want it traced.Means they’re smart.Organized.”
“What did the cameras show?”
“Nitro’s still pulling footage.But whoever this is?They know how to avoid being seen.”
A low curse slips out before I can hold it back.
Chux continues, quieter now.“And Riot the angle of impact on her car?Nitro thinks it was meant to take her out, but another car came up on them before they could finish.”
My fingers twitch, itching for violence.
“I already knew that,” I mutter.
Chux studies my face.“You holdin’ it together?”
“Define ‘together.’”
He huffs.“Looks like you’re walking fine.Talking fine.Not punching walls.For you, that counts.”
I drag a hand down my face.“She doesn’t remember me.”
“Doesn’t look like she’s scared of you either.”
I look back into the room.Through the narrow crack, I see her watching the door, chewing her lip nervously.Searching for me.
“She trusts me,” I say quietly.
Chux nods.“Then don’t mess it up.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.Because until we know who’s after her, she’s priority one.”
I nod once, my jaw set.“I’ll stay with her when she’s discharged.”
“Thought you would.Shaft and Mellow will trail.We’ll rotate shifts.”
I look back again Kelly is fiddling with the bed controls, distracted, but her eyes keep darting to the door.
“She needs stability,” I say.“And space.”
