I fumble with the crumpled paper, hands trembling. It’s all I have—the scrawl of Trey’s name, this address. Proof I didn’t dream him.
I hold it out, fingers shaking so badly it nearly slips to the floor. The one with the crutch takes it carefully, smoothing the ruined page. His lips twitch faintly, not quite a smile, not quite a frown.
Dean leans in, scanning it. His jaw tightens.
Another look passes between them. One that makes my stomach drop.
“What?” My voice cracks, sharp with fear. “What is it?”
He shakes his head quickly, soothing, before passing the paper back to me, “Nothing bad. Just… give us a second.”
Dean’s hand is already in his pocket, pulling out a phone. He steps into the corner, voice low as he scrolls, then presses a number.
The sound of the ring tone shatters me.
It’s real.
He’s real.
Dean’s voice is clipped but calm when the line picks up. “Trey? …Yeah. You’re gonna want to come down here.”
The soaked paper shakes in my hand. My knees buckle. For the first time in forever, I’m not sure if I want to run… or collapse.
Chapter eleven
Trey
Run – OneRepublic
The phone won’t stop buzzing.
I stare at it where it rattles against the table, light flashing in the corner of my vision.
I almost let it go to voicemail. Almost.
Then I see the name.
Dean.
My stomach drops.
I fumble for the phone, thumb swiping before my brain catches up. “Dean?”
His voice is steady, like it always is. Calm in a way that makes you believe the ground won’t break under you. “Trey? Yeah…you’re gonna wanna come down here.”
There’s no fucking way she ran. Not after all this time, right?
“We’ve got a girl here. She says her name’s Seraphina. She looks half-frozen, scared out of her mind. She’s asking for you.”
Everything inside me stops.
For a split second I think I misheard him. My chest hollows, ears ringing. Then the words land hard enough to steal my breath.
Seraphina.
The chair screeches against the floor as I shoot up, heart hammering. “Is she—fuck—Dean, is she okay?” My voice shakes, betrays me. I don’t care.
Dean’s tone doesn’t change. “She’s safe. Fragile, but safe. Clay’s with her now. Trey… she looks like she hasn’t slept in days.”
