We all nodded in agreement.
We needed to get out of here, and hopefully this time, we’d get some concrete answers.
37
NOVA
The unease that had been swirling in my stomach when I noticed the imprints in the grass intensified when I entered the cool, still interior of the barrow.Someone has been here.
If I hadn’t seen the boot treads outside, I still would have been able to tell. The cushions were strewn around the tiny space, as if someone had been searching for something in a hurry. I didn’t keep anything important in here, so what had they been looking for?
Then I noticed that the metal box where I kept my art supplies was cracked open, my sketchpad lying on the floor instead of on top of the chest where I’d left it, torn and crumpled pages surrounding it.
A shiver ran down my spine, goosebumps erupting all over my arms. What if someone was still out there? It was all open, rolling hills around me, but someone could be watching me from a distance.
Why hadn’t I listened to my brother? After what had happened yesterday, I’d been so careful. I’d only come here because I’d been certain it was safe and hidden; I neededmy sanctuary after everything that had happened.I needed time to process it all, to come to terms with the fact that I’d voluntarily stabbed a man, with no qualms, as soon as I’d seen Jay gaining on him. I didn’t know what the man was capable of, and while rationally I knew Jay could handle himself, something inside me panicked, and I couldn’t just sit there. I’d never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to him and I hadn’t eventriedto do something.
Regardless, I shouldn’t have come here. Not when I knew it wasn’t safe. I didn’t even have my phone with me, and I’d given the burner phone back to Ryker when he’d dropped me off after Daniel had been taken to the clinic.
For the first time, I was truly scared. Gathering up the loose pages and grabbing my sketchpad, I left everything else as it was and made my way back up to the prison wall as quickly as I could.
When I was back inside and the library came into view, everything hit me at once. I stumbled inside on shaking legs, collapsing onto the closest seat. My breaths were coming hard and fast, and I buried my face in my folded arms in the futile hope that no one would see me this way.
“Nova.”
No. Anyone buthim.
“Nova.” This time, Anton’s voice was commanding, and I had no choice but to raise my head to meet his gaze. I sucked in a shuddering breath, hiding my trembling hands beneath the table as I pasted on a smile. Every single one of my instincts was screaming to get away.
“Hi,” I whispered.
He stared down at me, his eyes narrowing. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Folding his arms over his chest, he held my gaze. “I will escort you to my game tonight.”
It wasn’t a request.
Fuck. No. No, no, no. “Um, thank you for the offer, but I have plans with Liana. I’ll see you at the rink, okay?” Forcing my legs to work, I rose to my feet and fled from the library, ignoring his calls after me.
Inside the safety of my room with the door locked behind me, I yanked my phone from its charger, hit the power button, and then threw myself onto the bed. I needed to text Liana so she could cover for me.
Before I could do that, a string of unread messages lit up my screen. I had two new threads, the first from my twin.
Ry:
Got confirmation guy was hired by one of the Volkovs’ underlings. Doesn’t know much other than that. Disposable goon
Meeting Dad & other syndicate members after the game with J and D. Be careful. Something big is going down
Don’t go anywhere alone. Keep someone else with you at all times. Stay away from the Volkovs. Act normal
Text me when you’ve seen this
I texted my brother back, assuring him I would take all necessary precautions, and then opened the message thread with Jay.
Jay:
