Page 157 of Exposé

She needs you.

The world tilted on its axis and pulled me into oblivion.

Thick darkness sat outside, broken by the faint sheen of the waning moonlight off the river’s surface. My head throbbed, the ache settling behind my eyes like prisoners begging to be set free. I blinked hard, dragging myself back from the edge of unconsciousness.

My side screamed with every shallow breath.

It's evening?

How long was I out?

Two hours?

Three?

I’d passed out like a rookie.

Reaching up, I flicked on the overhead light, its harsh, yellowed glow flooding the car. I squinted against the brightness and glanced down.

"God. Fuck."

The bandage around my side hung loose, darkened with a fresh bloom of crimson. The dried blood trailed along my skin, pooling in the dip of my hip before streaking down to the seat.

"Ugghh."

I forced myself upright and grabbed the water bottle from the seat with a grunt and choked down two gulps, the liquid soothing its way down my dry throat.

Screwing the lid back on the bottle, I tossed it into the seat beside me and finished the haphazard job I'd started who knows how long ago with my teeth gritted.

Fresh perspiration beaded across my brow by the time I'd finished cleaning my side, taping it up with gauze and stuffing the wound tight—my vision dipping into darkness.

I tipped my head back against the headrest and blew out air through my pursed lips, the burner phone sitting on the dash glaring at me.

Where is she?

Is she safe?

Why hadn't she used her phone in twenty-four hours?

I should’ve put the tracker back on her car after Liam.

I should’ve done a lot of things.

Grabbing the phone, I held it in my hand, debating the next step—weighing each consequence.

The burner sat like a ten-pound dumbbell, heavier than it should as I dialed the one person I didn't want to need.

“You’ve got some nerve, Barlowe.”

“Callie—”

“Don’t. Don’t even start. Do you have any idea the shitstorm you left me in? Keith’s out for blood. The agency’s in lockdown. And me?” Her voice cracked, hardening again in the same breath. “I’m hanging on by a thread, Nate. You’re lucky I didn’t smash this phone the second I saw your number.”

I closed my eyes, my nostrils flaring. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“No,” she snapped. “You didn’t have a plan. And now Keith’s convinced I’m your accomplice. Do you know how long I spent convincing him otherwise?”

“I need you to shut up and listen for a minute.”

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