Page 127 of Hidden Echoes

A sense of ownership stirs in me, but not the kind I’ve always feared. It’s something deeper, more intimate, and...belongingin a way I’ve never felt before.

"My necklace," I murmur, the words barely escaping me, and I watch as something shifts in him—his jaw tightens, his eyes softening.

"I’ll give it back to you," he says, and I shake my head before I even think about it.

"You should keep it," I whisper. "It looks better on you."

"Are you sure?"

I look at the number etched into the center, my finger tracing it lightly. "Do you see this number here?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "It’s been who I am, who I’ve been known as... for as long as I can remember. Worn around my neck like it was the only thing that defined me. But when I see it on you, it’s different. It feels likeyou’re mine now. And... I like the sound of that."

But not just that—I belong to him in a way that terrifies me.

Of all the things I’ve ever conjured, this is the most important part of my story.

Zane’s smile flickers, a mix of surprise and something I can’t quite place.

He sighs, his gaze shifting down as if he doesn’t know how to respond. I wait, allowing him the space to process, feeling every second stretch between us, laden with unspoken words and emotions that neither of us are ready to name just yet.

Zane looks at me and exhales. "The person I was on the phone with was a member of the The Society of Crow. Just like me."

I freeze at his words but remain silent.

"I can’t hide anything from you, Mia," Zane continues, and I listen. "TSOC is a very old entity. I had no intention of joining, but when my father died… I wanted this—for him. I never wanted to be fully involved because my life is outside of it. But my fate is still tied to theirs, and it will be until the end."

My heart tightens. Zane and I have come a long way in building trust, and yet… I still haven’t told him about my father.

In the year we spent outside the United States, I learned so much and healed parts of myself I hadn’t even realized were broken. I don’t want that taken from me.

"Before you tell me more about the Society of Crow, I need to tell you something," I begin seriously.

Zane stiffens, turning to face me. "What?"

"I’m not just a fugitive from the Cartel. I’m more than that."

"I know," he says with a weak smile.

"You do?"

"Not the whole story, but whatever you're going to tell me, we’ll figure it out. Okay?"

I lower my gaze. "I’ve killed members of the Society of Crow before."

"What?"

"I did it because, all my life, I was taught that they were evil. That they wanted to cause harm. That’s what my father trained me for—since I was ten years old. Since he lost my brother, One. My father never got over it. He said a Ross killed him, and that one day, we would avenge his death."

"Mia…" Zane’s voice drops. "Please tell me you’re not a fucking spy."

"I’m not a fucking spy," I echo his words.

"Mia, this isn’t a joke."

"I’m not joking, okay?" I snap. He keeps staring at me. "Outside the States, together, we were living in our little bubble. But here… things are more complicated. My father doesn’t take kindly to losing what he considers his possessions. And that’s all I ever was to him—a possession."

"Mia…"

"When you found me—"

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