Page 9 of Lyon

“Where’s the first group?” River asked, his voice tight.

“They’re in an underground tunnel,” Mack said. “Leo’s in that first group. Let’s go there now. I was going to call you about Leo being alive. Are you going to be able to move them?”

River didn’t answer. He just turned and walked away, rubbing his eyes.

I glanced around. The other guys were doing the same.

“Yes,” Gage finally said. “We’ll take the first group and come back for the others. Take us to them.”

We followed Mack down a quiet street to another house. It looked abandoned, but he led us inside anyway.

In the bedroom, he pulled back the carpet, revealing a trapdoor.

If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never see it.

River was the first one down. I followed, my heart racing as I scanned the room filled with Americans sitting in chairs, waiting.

I swallowed hard, then called out,“Max?”

River had already found his brother. He wrapped him in a tight hug, their resemblance unmistakable. Leo was younger, but they shared the same features, the same sharp intensity in their eyes.

“Let’s go,” River said, his voice thick with emotion.

Mack nodded. “I’ll get the van. The sun is almost down. It’ll be safer if we wait a few more minutes.”

I walked at the back of the group, my heart pounding. I will return with them—but only if I could find my brother.

As the others climbed into the van, I stepped back.

“Nick, what are you doing? Get in,” Lyon said.

“I’m staying,” I said firmly. “I have to find my brother.”

His jaw tensed. “We’ll look together when we get back. It’s too dangerous for you to be here alone.”

“Mack is taking me to another group tomorrow morning,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”

“No! I don’t want to leave you here alone.”

“Lyon, come on,” River said impatiently. “You can finish your argument when we get back.”

Lyon’s eyes burned into mine. “You better stay hidden,” he muttered. “And don’t talk when people are around.”

“I know,” I said. “I won’t talk.”

He shook his head, clearly pissed, then climbed into the van. As it pulled away, I saw him say something to River.

I knew he was angry with me.

But I didn’t care. I wasn’t leaving until I found Max.

That night, I was able to shower and wash my hair. It felt incredible.

Before leaving the bathroom, I put my contacts and wig back on, then washed my clothes in the sink and hung them up to dry.

The second my head hit the pillow, I was out.

I dreamed of Max.

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