Page 83 of Fallen Stars

“I asked him to come,” I say.

Both men glance my way.

“Nice to see you, Oliver.” Tymber steps closer to the bed. “Wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Me too.” I inhale a small, shaky breath. “I know I need to give you a statement, Travis, but I also wanted Tymber here because of the situation.”

Travis’s brow furrows. “Alright.” He takes out his phone and taps on the screen a few times. “Whenever you’re ready, Oliver.”

My gaze darts between the two of them. “Last night is still a bit hazy, but I remember bits of what happened after everyone left Dalton’s.”

I spend the next several minutes giving an account of what I remember. As I near the end, I lock on to Tymber’s weary expression. “I don’t know what you and Levi are working on, but the little he shared, I know it’s extensive.”

Closing my eyes, I muster up the strength to say the next part. A chill blankets me from head to toe as my limbs tremble. Curling my fingers, I fist the blanket and meet their waiting stares.

“This wasn’t random. They weren’t vagrants. They weren’t mugging us.” I swallow as the next part edges the tip of my tongue. “I think someone t-took him,” I say, the words shaky and hollow.

Tymber’s expression turns a ghastly shade of gray as he turns to my parents. “Would you mind stepping out for a moment? It won’t take long.”

Concern mars my parents’ features, but they agree to give us privacy.

When it’s only the three of us, Tymber tips his head back and pinches the bridge of his nose. After a deep inhale, he levels his gaze.

“Levi and I were asked to help on a missing person case. But the case was one of hundreds, and we couldn’t ignore the similarities when we compared several of them. I need to look through his computer at the office, but I know he’s been in communication with a group of people on the dark web.”

Travis’s head snaps in Tymber’s direction. “I’m sorry, what?” His voice vibrates the air.

Tymber gives Travis an apologetic smile. “We can talk more later.”

“No,” Travis barks. “We can talk now.” He points to the floor.

“Iwillshare more later, but what Icansay in present company”—Tymber’s gaze returns to mine—“is that we uncovered a major human trafficking ring.”

My body goes numb as I stop breathing. My eyes burn as every inch of my body shakes violently. The heart monitor next to the bed beeps faster and louder as the room shrinks around me.

No.I shake my head in disbelief.Please don’t let it be true.

I slam my eyes closed and gasp for breath, but no air fills my lungs.

Something presses down on my foot, and I flinch.

“No!” I scream as my eyes fly open. My fists slam down on the mattress over and over. “No, no, no, no, no!”

My parents dash into the room and scurry to my side.

“Shh, dušo.” Mama touches my cheek. “I’ve got you.”

“What did you say?” Papa barks out, his voice laced with unfamiliar venom.

Mama continues to soothe me with quiet words as she presses the button on the bed rail.

“Tell me,” Papa demands.

“We believe Levi has been… abducted,” Travis says too calmly.

Mama gasps at the same time Papa clutches his chest. Papa’s warm eyes meet mine, tears rimming them as he swallows. He inhales a shaky breath as the first tear falls. A mixture of fear, sympathy and relief washes over his face.

Since waking up, my parents have fretted over and smothered me with an obscene amount of love and gratitude.But the moment I questioned where Levi was and explained what I could remember, all I got was gentle reassurances in soft tones.

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