Page 50 of Hidden Truths

HARLOW

Coraand I are playing on the floor of the living room while Jason is cooking dinner in the kitchen. She has new bath toys she loves, so we took a bath. I even went in with her in a swimsuit. She loves it when I play in the bubbles with her.

It’s been a pretty normal night for us. Except it’s the first time Cal won’t be home, and Mav came home from lunch with his mom in the angriest state I’ve ever seen him in. Which seems to be really stressing Willa and Jo out. So maybe not the most normal night.

Willa and Jo come bursting through the front door, Maverick sauntering in behind them. Their eyes are practically bugging out of their heads.

“What is it?” I ask, worried they found Ezra. Or more specifically, his body. It’s what’s been running through my mind all day. The only time Mav’s mother didn’t lie was when she said Ezra was dead. I knew it would destroy them all if she was right.

Jo doesn’t answer. She just walks over to the TV and puts on the evening news. I gasp at what I see. The Bangor Correctional Facility is in lockdown. There’s video of the alarms blaring and lights flashing.

“Early reports state witnesses heard two gun shots within a few seconds of each other. No report on Shattered Halo members Callahan and Bellamy Griffin and Malikai Irons or the man they entered with.”

My heart stops, my stomach clenches, my ears are ringing, and I don’t think I’m breathing. Cora grabs onto my pant leg and tries to pull herself up. I grab her into my arms and hug her to my chest, burying my nose in her hair.

“I have you, Cora girl,” I whisper.

Jo and Willa are on either side of me. Mav is on the floor in front of us with his head in his hands, waiting for news like the rest of the world. Jason came into the room at some point. I can see him pacing out of the corner of my eyes, but I can’t tear my gaze away from the news long enough to check on him.

My dad is in that building. Cal is in that building. Kai and Belle are in that building. Was there a shooter? Did the guards have to pull a gun? How bad would things have to be if they had to shoot?

Willa is furiously texting next to me. “Come on, Belle,” she cries.

I grab my phone to try calling Cal. He told me they wouldn’t be allowed to have their phones on them, but I try anyway. Call after call goes to voicemail. I switch to trying my dad, but that has the same result.

“Answer the phone, Kai!” Mav screams. It makes Cora cry. “I’m sorry, sweet girl. Uncle Mav didn’t mean to scare you,” he says softly, rubbing her back. She calms quickly and snuggles back into my chest.

I catch Jason looking at us. His phone is in his hand, trying to get in touch with his kids. Fuck. Both of his children are in there. I can’t imagine the panic he’s feeling. I gesture to Cora with my chin. He comes over and scoops her into his arms.

“Thank you,” he whispers, a tear falling from his eye onto Cora’s head.

“Look!” Jo shouts, jumping up from the couch. We all turn and watch as Cal’s SUV leaves the prison. The windows are all tinted, so it’s hard to see who’s in it. My dad’s car follows shortly behind.

“Why are they still not answering?” Willa asks, frustrated.

I try Cal a few more times. She’s right. They’re not.

I pull on my hair. We just need one of them to answer us and tell us they’re okay.

“No,” Jason whispers, sounding broken.

I look up and gasp. A van just entered through the prison gate. The word printed in black, stark against the white of the van, was clear as day.

Coroner.

twenty

CAL

The guard leadsus into a room set up with a bunch of round metal tables. Round seats are attached to them. It seems like everything in this place is bolted to the floor. Which is good. It means Kai can’t throw anything at Brad.

“Remember, let myself or Belle do the talking. I’m not even sure the two of you should be in here,” Harrison says, giving a stern look to both Kai and me. I scoff while Kai glares. Like we’d let Belle in here without us. “Yeah, yeah. Overprotective macho men. Got it.”

Brad is led into the room by a female corrections officer. His blond hair is slicked back, and he’s smiling like the shithead he is.

“Are you allowed to have hair gel in prison?” I whisper to Kai.

“Seems like it,” he whispers back. Harrison hears us and shoots us a warning look.

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