Page 22 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“To you?”

The girl shook her head. “No.”

“Why didn’t you go to the police?”

Bay gave a small, humorless laugh. “Do you really have to ask?”

When Sabre didn’t respond, Bay said, “They wouldn’t have done anything. Not until it was too late.”

“So, you decided to handle it yourself?”

Bay nodded.

Sabre asked the question that mattered most. “When you confronted him, what happened?”

“He figured it out.”

“What do you mean?”

“He knew I wasn’t just some kid walking by. He started asking questions. And when I didn’t answer”—Bay shuddered—“he grabbed me. He was trying to find out what I knew. And if he figured that out…”

“So, you stabbed him?”

“Yes.”

“Because you thought he was going to hurt you.”

Bay met her eyes. “And someone else.”

Sabre let out a quiet breath. There it was. Not the whole truth, but enough to understand that Bay hadn’t hunted Maddox for revenge. She had gone after him because she believed someone was in danger.

“You’re still protecting them.” Sabre stood. “I don’t think I can help you.”

“You think I’m lying to you,” Bay said.

“I think you’re not telling me everything.”

“I told you enough.”

“No.”

“He would have hurt her.”

Both of them froze. The pronoun had slipped out.

“Her,” Sabre repeated softly.

Bay stiffened, her wall snapping back into place. “I didn’t say that.”

“Get some rest.”

Bay scowled. “That’s it?”

“For now.”

Sabre moved toward the door.

“Sabre Brown.”