Page 138 of Hidden Echoes

And his smile tells me everything I need to know.

“So, how’d it go with Laura?”Lara asks, a curious glint in her eye.

I huff a laugh. “Is that my friend asking or a Society of Crow member?”

She lifts her hands in surrender. “Okay, fine. Charlie asked me to check—just making sure the stories match.”

They would. Zane and I aren’t stupid. Not that we even lied. He told Hunter and Charlie the truth: Laura and I were held captive together, and that’s why she’s been checking in on me. What he didn’t mention—the part we both agreed to keep quiet—was that I’m Nico’s daughter.

“Laura and I went through a lot in that cage,” I say, and it’s not a lie.

Lara’s expression shifts, her brows pulling together. “Mia… I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”

I shake my head, barely above a whisper. “I didn’t even know it was hard until I got out of there.”

She watches me, something unreadable in her eyes, before offering a warm smile. “Well, at least now you know you’re protected. As Zane’s wife, the Society automatically protects you.”

I don’t buy it. Not entirely. But I just shake my head, letting it go.

And as if sensing I don’t want to dwell, Lara shifts gears, grabbing my wrist and tugging me toward a tarp, excitement lighting up her face.

The store was a wonderland of colors and fabrics, and I twirled between the racks like a kid at an amusement park. Lara, on the other hand, examined each item with meticulous patience, holding a few and frowning before deciding whether they were worth it. I already had a pile of clothes piled high in my arms, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to take half of them.

"That's pretty." I held a flowery dress up against me, twirling it for Lara to assess.

She looked at him, tilting her head slightly. "It's pretty. But are you actually going to wear it, or do you just think it would look nice on the hanger?"

I laughed and hugged the dress. "That sounds like a direct attack on my soul."

Lara smiled, turning her attention to a tailored ensemble. “I’m just saying. You seem like the type to buy on impulse.”

"Because I am! That's part of the charm."

She shook her head, but with an amused look. "You remind me of my sister when she got excited about the most random things."

My attention returned completely to her. "Do you have a sister?"

There was a slight pause before she replied, "No. Just Carter."

The name hung in the air, and Lara looked away at the hangers. I was tempted to ask more, but I felt like it wasn’t the right time. Instead, I pulled out another item and continued our shopping mission.

After almost two hours—and me changing my mind about at least ten items—we finally gave in and headed to the food court. Lara chose a salad and a natural juice, while I ordered a giant milkshake and a burger.

"How do you eat so much junk and still be like this?" She asked, raising her eyebrow at my request.

"Perfect genetics, honey." I winked, picking up the milkshake and taking an exaggerated sip.

Lara laughed, stirring her own juice. "You're lucky. I can't even think about fast food without feeling like I've gained a pound."

"Life is unfair." I sighed dramatically before biting into my burger.

She laughed again and relaxed a little. It was only after a few bites of food that I decided to bring up the subject.

"You know… Zane asked me not to talk about Carter with you."

Lara looked up, clearly surprised. "He asked for that?"

I nodded, licking some milkshake off the straw. “But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or anything. If you don’t want to talk about him, that’s fine.”

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