Page 154 of Hidden Echoes

But my legs won’t move back inside. They want to go the other way.

Shit.

I grab my coat and head out the door before I can talk myself out of it.

CHAPTER 30

MIA

I should have learned from my mistakes.

Following people never leads to anything good.

But maybe I blame Zane for teaching me how to drive—both cars and motorcycles—because now my skills let me go further than I should, even if it means torturing someone in the process.

I took Zane's bike. He hardly ever uses it, and it was a shock when I found it in his garage.

I know he's probably going to be irritated—I get that he has a certain attachment to the motorcycle for reasons I don’t particularly care to understand.

Finally, I pull my phone from my pocket and answer a message from Liv and another from Audrey.

I was a bit taken aback when I found out Audrey’s last name was Ross. But what really threw me off was realizing my brother, a former Riviera, is somehow tangled up with her. I got why he's so defensive when I mentioned her—it makes sense.

I also found out that Liv and Andi are part of TSOC, while Audrey’s just an Evermore.

Honestly, I’m kind of grateful I found this out after everything was cleared up. Can you imagine trying to keep up a friendship with people who are on the same side that hurt my brother? That would've been...awkward, to say the least. Guess I dodged that bullet.

Oh, and that’s why Andi knew my name. I was listed in Zane’s file, part of his protocols after he... ran me over.

Her clan keeps track of members, and I guess I just got caught up in all the chaos. Everything finally made sense when she explained it, though I couldn't help but feel like I was in some spy thriller.

I reply to Liv about the photo of her in London with Andi, then open Audrey’s message—only to realize it’s not Audrey. It’s my idiot brother.

Audrey:Don’t send me any more messages.

Mia:You’re going to have to try harder than that, One.

Audrey:At least you’re not completely stupid. I smirk. My brother is something else.

I smirk. My brother issomethingelse.

Still, it’s ironic to see someone with the last nameRivieraand aRosstogether. It reminds me of that one movie—Romeo and Juliet.Anyway, I’m distracting myself too much. I need to focus.

The alley is dark and reeks of garbage and urine. I press myself against the rough concrete wall, watching the scene unfold in front of me.

Carter is cornered, his body tense, facing three men who clearly aren’t here to chat. The biggest one, a brute with tattoos scattered across his neck, speaks impatiently.

"Did you bring our money?"

Carter hesitates. I know that tone. He’s trying to stay calm, trying to find an escape with words, but even he can’t talk his way out of this.

"I just… I need more time."

The slap comes before he can even finish the sentence. The sharp crack echoes through the alley, and Carter stumbles back, clutching his face.

"Time doesn’t pay debts, asshole." The drug dealer gestures to one of his men, who lifts an iron pipe.

Before he can strike, I’m already in motion.

---