Page 64 of Broken Instrument

“It’s not your fault,” she whispers, still defeated. “He’s never been gone this long.”

“Have you heard anything else from the police? Since they found the evidence…”

She shakes her head and turns around in her swivel chair. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she pulls me into her until her head is pressed against my stomach. Her hair is soft and silky as I run my fingers through it, still desperate to comfort her. To make everything okay, even when I know it isn’t possible.

“They’re keeping everything really quiet,” she whispers. “Every time Isabella or I call for an update, all they say is,” she drops her voice low, mimicking the male detective who’s heading up the case. “We’re doing everything in our power to bring him home. Please let us do our job. The problem is, I can’t seem to do mine while he’s missing, and my editor wants to kill me because of it.”

I sigh and rub my hand up and down her back. “Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want me to leave so you can concentrate?”

“I want you to stay. I want you to stay, and I want you to kiss me.”

“Hads,” I warn her. “I don’t want to distract you––”

My phone rings in my jeans, cutting me off, and I dig it out.

“Who is it?” Hadley asks.

“It’s Hawthorne.”

22

HADLEY

“Hello?” Fen answers the call with a tight jaw as he rests his hip on the edge of my desk.

The room is quiet, but I still can’t hear what Hawthorne’s saying on the other end. However, I have a feeling it has something to do with me because Fender’s gaze darts my way a few seconds later.

He frowns and replies, “Yeah. She’s okay.”

Silence.

“Thanks, I'll, uh, I’ll let her know.”

More silence.

Fender sits on the edge of the desk, his spine ramrod straight. “Are you serious?”

The soft, low voice echoes from the speaker though I still can’t make out what’s being said.

“Yeah. I mean, I get it’s a big opportunity, but––”

Silence.

“I know, but what about Broken Vows?”

Silence.

“I don’t want you to do me any favors––”

He scrubs his hand over his face as Hawthorne says something else.

“Yeah. I know,” Fender replies.

Silence.

“Yeah. I know I need to talk to Sonny.”

Silence.

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