Another hour passes. It becomes clear they won’t come. But I still refuse to move.
What if I leave and they show up? Maybe he’s busy somewhere.
The cold has numbed my legs completely. My face is frozen. The wind picks up, dropping the temperature further.
After one more hour, I surrender.
I have turned into a frozen statue, and I’m so mad at him I can feel it in my bones.He could have let me know if he was busy. But no. He doesn’t care enough for that.
I get up and leave the park.
I won’t forgive him for this. If he doesn’t have a very reasonable explanation, he’s going to face my anger for a long time.
After changing, I head to the dining room, where everyone is already seated for dinner. They all look at me but don’t ask anything.
I think my pissed-off mood is clear on my face. Dad must know Salvario didn’t show, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d shared that with everyone else.
A maid serves my dinner. I start eating in silence.
From the corner of my eye, I feel everyone’s gaze on me.
This is the most awkward situation I’ve ever put myself in. I’ve been lying to them about something they doubt—no, more than doubt. They’re almost certain.
Whatever, Wen. Just be shameless. Don’t admit the truth even if they ask outright. And they know that, which is why they’re not asking.
They lose interest in staring at me soon enough. Mom and Aunt dive into discussing their party plans. Dad and Uncle fall into their own conversation.
Leaving me alone with my food and my thoughts.
Chapter 36
Elowen
I place Avi’s phone and mine in the nightstand drawer, then pull her into the bathroom, locking the door behind us.
“He was here,” I whisper, my voice low and urgent.
Her eyes go wide. “What?! How?! When?!” The questions come out in a frantic, whispered yell.
“At my concert—” I tell her the whole story: how he stayed in DC for three days, and how he’s gone now.
It’s been four days since that night. I go to the park every day, but he doesn’t show. I’ve convincedmyself he’s gone. But some stubborn part of me refuses to let go of the hope he’ll appear, even though I know it’s better if he doesn’t.
She holds her head in her hands.
“What kind of dangerous game are you playing?” She mutters, then straightens abruptly, her eyes widening. “Wait, wait, wait. You said your dad and mom suspected he’s your kidnapper, and then he goes missing the very next day? How did you never consider that your dad might be behind it?”
My mouth falls open. I slap a hand over it.
“Oh shit.”
I pace the bathroom. “What if it’s really true? How do we find out? They played along with my lie so well, it’s possible they planned the whole thing just to make me believe my lie was safe.”
She perches on the edge of the sink counter.
“Stop panicking. Let’s make a plan to find out the truth.”
I stop pacing and face her. “I can’t think of a way. We don’t know where they keep captives. We know nothing about the crime side of their work.”
