"Something with Eden?" The beast stirs.
"Not sure. She's been trying his cell for two hours. Nothing."
"Could be anything." I'm already moving toward my bike. "Man's gotta sleep sometimes."
There's a shuffle on the line, and then Nova's voice comes through. "Carver doesn't sleep when he's on to something. All he told me was it had something to do with Venetti and he'd fill me in within the hour. That was four hours ago." A pause. "I don'tknow if it's connected to Eden, but I don't want to be wrong. I tried her too, just to be sure. Straight to voicemail."
My gut twists. If Carver's down, she's got no one.
"Send me her address and number."
Ash is back. "We're already on our way. You stay put."
"Ash—"
"I mean it. You showing up complicates shit with the DA. Rodriguez already warned us about the appeal. You being anywhere near Eden right now gives Venetti's lawyers ammunition."
He's right. I know he's right.
I grab my helmet anyway.
"Diesel." His voice hardens. "Stand down. Let us handle it."
Silence on the line. He's waiting for confirmation.
"Send me the address."
"Don't make me regret this call."
The text comes through. I'm on my bike before the screen dims.
He knows I'm going. Knew it the second he dialed. Some orders are given just so it's on the record that they were disobeyed.
Eden
Three knocks. I sit up too fast and my head spins.
Carver. Breakfast. Shit.
I grab for my phone on the nightstand before I remember—I turned it off. No alarm.
The clock on the dresser reads 6:03. Still almost dark outside, just the barest gray at the edges of the curtains.
Wait. Our breakfast isn't until nine. Why would he be here this early?
Probably couldn't sleep either. Wants to check on me after everything. That's Carver—always worrying.
The knocking comes again.
"Coming," I croak. My voice is wrecked.
I catch my reflection in the mirror and wince. Swollen eyes, tear-streaked face, hair a tangled disaster. I slept in yesterday's clothes—the ones I testified in.
I shuffle to the door and check the peephole.
Not Carver.
Daniels. Leaning on a cane, weight shifted off his bad leg.
