“You don’t hide from me,” I say quietly.“Not when something’s wrong.”
She wraps her arms around herself.“I’m fine.”
She isn’t.
And the fact she’s trying to pretend she is makes something violent coil inside me.
The door opens behind us.Finn pokes his head in.
“Cap—” He stops when he sees her.His smile fades.His eyes narrow.“What happened?”
She answers too fast.“Nothing.”
Atlas appears next—massive, bruised knuckles flexing—and the way his gaze slices over her makes my gut clench.
They see it too.
They feel it too.
Finn’s voice softens.“Harper...talk to us.”
Atlas’s jaw ticks.“Who do I kill?”
I shoot him a warning look, but I don’t disagree with the sentiment.
She shakes her head, backing away from all three of us.“Please.I don’t want to talk about it.I just...want to work.Let me work.”
Then she slips past us.
No fire.
No attitude.
No spark.
Just fear wrapped in exhaustion.
The door closes behind her.
Finn blows out a breath.“Something happened last night.”
Atlas mutters, “Yeah.And whoever did it’s dead.”
I stare at the door she disappeared through, cold rage settling low and heavy in my chest.
“She’s lying to protect someone,” I say.
Finn nods.“Not us.”
“No,” I say quietly.“Not us.”
Atlas steps closer, voice rough.“So what do we do?”
I answer without hesitation.
“We find out who touched her world.”
My jaw flexes.
