She clamps both hands on my upper arms, holding me upright as the terror floods out of me and leaves my limbs watery and useless. I sag against her, clutching at her uniform sleeve like its a lifeline.
"Riley?” Her voice is softer than I expect, concern slicing through the iron in it. “Breathe. You’re okay. You’re safe.”
My voice comes out a wild, low rasp. “Maya…”
“Easy. You look like you just saw a ghost. What happened?” She scans up and down the street behind me, her whole body tensed for whatever threat might have scared me so badly. “Were you being followed? I saw you bolt. You need to tell me what’s going on.”
“I…” My voice cracks. “I thought I was… I thought someone was…”
She holds onto me until my knees stop threatening to fold, then keeps a hand at my elbow as she gently guides me to the curb, shielding me a little from the crowd. Her cop instincts are dialed up to eleven, but she’s trying not to make a scene.
“What happened?” she asks again, quieter this time. “And why are you alone? You know it isn’t safe.”
“Do you know where they went?” I ask, the words tumbling out too fast. “The MC? Breaker?”
Maya nods. “Yeah. I contacted Rabid. I told him one of Pike’s credit cards pinged at a motel near the county line. Gave him the address so they could check it out.” She studies me, brow furrowed. “Are you okay? You look… terrified.”
My breath stutters. “Officer Alvarado, I think something’s wrong.” The words are barely a whisper, as if saying them aloud will make the suspicion real.
Her gaze sharpens instantly. “Wrong how? This whole thing is wrong if half the stuff I’ve heard about Pike is to be believed.”
“Pike,” I say. The name means nothing to me. “Who is Pike? Everyone keeps saying that name, but I don't... I don't know who that is.”
Officer Alvarado raises an eyebrow at me for a moment before her consummate professionalism wipes it away. “You don't know who… Riley, Randall Pike is the alias your stalker's been using. He's wanted for—“
My phone buzzes loudly in my hand. Maya waits, alert and patient, as I glance down. It’s a text.
From Breaker.
The relief is so sharp and electric that I have to blink back tears, my whole body lighting up with the hope that maybe, for once, the universe isn’t out to get me. I read it aloud under my breath:It's done. Pike's handled. Come meet me for a drink. Need to see you.
A location link sits beneath it.
Warmth blooms in my chest — relief, joy, hope all twisted together.
“He's okay,” I whisper, smiling despite myself. “I'm free. Oh my god, I'm actually free.”
Maya watches my face carefully. “Riley… are you sure you’re alright? You looked ready to jump out of your skin.”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly — too quickly, but I can’t stop smiling. “Really. Everything’s going to be okay now. Breaker took care of it. All of it.”
Maya catches my arm. “Riley, wait. Something feels off. Let me verify this first — call Rabid, make sure—“
“It's fine,” I say, pulling away. “It's from Breaker. Everything's fine now.”
She doesn’t look convinced. But I don’t wait.
I step past her, heart racing, but this time with excitement, not fear. The parade is a wall of noise and color at my back. I’m not sure I even hear it. All I can think about is the pale blue dot on my phone, the address where Breaker’s waiting.
Breaker wants to meet me.
Breaker is safe.
Breaker loves me.
And I’m free of that monster. Free. All this life around me — the joy, the laughter, the families, everything I never thought I’d have — is now something I can have, too.
I open my phone and call up a ride through an app. They show up in less than a minute, as every driver in town is hanging out around the parade route, just waiting for customers. His radio is tuned to a baseball game; the air inside the car smells like cinnamon gum and childhood memories. I close the door and suddenly realize my hands are no longer shaking. I can’t help but laugh.
