Page 153 of Sawyer

She hums at me.

Hums.

Ignoring her, I drive us over the bridge, this one far more secure than the last. On the dash, a walkie-talkie fills the cab with static before Rumor’s voice comes over. “Three, two” —I glance in the rearview— “one.” The explosion rocks the vehicle, but I don’t stop.

I keep rumbling down the dirt path, our destination unknown.

I don’t know where to take these women so they won’t be fearful.

Beside me, Thea sighs in relief.

“You’re safe now, Thea,” I look to the back. “You’re all safe now.”

“I was never in danger,” Thea says, and I almost miss it. Almost.

My stomach bottoms out, and my heart rate speeds up. “What?”

“I was never in any danger,” she replies slowly, repeating herself.

The road opens up, and I speed past Sin, taking the lead, and quickly pull over. Hopefully, he isn’t pissed off at me for cutting him off. This conversation can’t wait.

“What the hell are you doing?” Thea squeaks out, but there’s no fear in her voice, only irritation.

I climb out of the van just as Sin gets out. “What’s going on?”

In the distance, smoke billows into the sky. I don’t think I can speak. All I can do is look at Thea, who’s glaring at me from the passenger seat.

“I’ve got her.” Rumor goes over to her and drags her out of the vehicle.

“Don’t let the other girls see,” I yell at him. I don’t want to scare them.

“Let go of me,” Thea snarls. She snarls. “Sin,” she coos, and just like that, her mood shifts.

Sin looks at me, his eyes full of panic. He steps away from her, and I can see the fear on his face. It’s reflected on my own.

But I need to check something.

My gut is screaming at me.

Rushing to Sin’s van, I open the door.

No Sawyer.

I take off toward Rumor’s and open the door.

No Sawyer.

Slamming it shut, I head toward Thea. Everything inside of me rages, and fear pulses under my skin. This can’t be happening. No, no, no.

“Where is she?” I run my hands over my head, tears burning my eyes. I never cry. “Where’s Sawyer?”

Thea stops trying to wrap her arms around Sin and turns to me. Her innocence falls away. “Gone.”

“What have you done?” Sin spins her around, his patience gone. “What did you do?”

I don’t protect her from his anger because whatever she did, it wasn’t good.

“She’s alive. You didn’t kill her.” She rolls her eyes at the three of us like we are acting like children.

---