Page 136 of Myla: The Hawthornes

“Got it.”

“I’ll stay a minute,” Gray told Dragon. “Clear the tracks in the gravel.”

“Leave no trace.”

“Will do.”

Everyone headed for their bikes.

“She’s askin’ for you,” Tommy said, jerking his chin toward the house. “You should go back in.”

“She’s—” The words tangled in my throat.

“Don’t make me regret not buryin’ you. Go take care of my daughter.”

“Where you gonna be?”

“Watchin’ to make sure that motherfucker stays dead,” he mumbled, turning toward the carport.

I stopped on the porch and called the agent from the hospital. The amount of curse words the man could utter in fifteen seconds was truly impressive, even if I didn’t like the guy. He told me to stay put, and he’d send someone soon.

Rumi was talking quietly to Myla when I let myself in the front door.

“Dragon said to take off,” I told him.

“Love you, little sister,” Rumi said softly. “Good job.”

“I don’t know why people keep saying that,” she rasped.

“Because you’re alive,” Rumi replied as he got up from his seat and carefully slid it back into place.

“Hit me up if you guys need anything,” he said, slapping my shoulder as he passed me.

“Hey Rumi,” Myla called out quietly. He paused and looked at her over his shoulder. “I love you, too.”

When I’d first seen her sitting on the steps, I’d had so much adrenaline flowing through me that I’d felt like I could take on an army with just my fists. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, I wasn’t sure that I was good for much of anything.

“Hey baby,” I called, walking toward her slowly.

“Everybody left?” she asked, looking up at me in confusion.

“Your dad’s still outside.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I put a call in to the police. The FBI, actually. They’re gonna send someone out to talk to you.” I pulled out the chair that Rumi’d been sitting in and pulled it closer to her.

“I’m going to jail, aren’t I?” There was no emotion in her voice.

“No,” I replied instantly, sitting down. “Fuck no.”

“I killed someone.”

“You killed Julian Kitz,” I clarified.

“Did you check his wallet?”

“No, we’ve met.”

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