Page 90 of Hidden Echoes

No one.

I can feel my pulse in my throat, but I’m not backing down.

Whatever else is happening, she’s mine to protect.

Even if she’s the one causing the mess.

“Mia,” I murmur, a soft plea, as I step toward her. "It’s okay."

She doesn’t respond, still too lost in whatever dark place she was pulled into.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you now?" Kyle demands, his voice thick with frustration.

Mia’s gaze flickers to him, but there’s no malice in her eyes. Her expression is almost too calm for the situation, like she’s detached from everything around her. The coolness in her demeanor hits me harder than if she’d lashed out. She’s not showing vulnerability—not in the way she used to. No, this is the face of someone who’s been hardened by everything life has thrown at her.

I meet her eyes, silently telling her I’m getting her out of here—away from all of this. Away from the chaos. I can almost see the gears turning in her head as she processes the offer, but she doesn’t budge.

She doesn’t even flinch.

“You look like my little angel, but you’re grumpy,” she says softly, but I know better. She can kill him easily.

“Zane,” Kyle growled, rubbing his temple like this entire situation physically pained him. “Explain. Now.”

I looked from him to Abby, then back to Mia. How was I supposed to explain this? Even I didn’t fully understand her yet. She was chaos wrapped in human form, and for some godforsaken reason, she was mine.

“Okay guys, just calm down. This isn’t how I planned things, but here we are. This is my wife, Mia.”

“Wife?” Kyle’s mouth fell open. “You disappear for years and come back with a wife?”

“Crazy, right?” I replied, feigning nonchalance even as I braced for the storm that would come later.

Mia, ever unexpected, held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mia Hill. I tried to kill him when we first met. It was love at first sight.”

Kyle let out the longest sigh of his life, and I knew explaining this wouldn’t be easy.

CHAPTER 21

MIA

Getting to know Abby turned out to be fun after all—not so much Kyle. He’s grumpy and makes Zane look like a ray of sunshine, honestly. I almost wish I could’ve asked about Audrey, but I know Zane doesn’t want much contact with his family for some reason. I understand. He’ll talk about it when he’s ready.

I glance over at him, fast asleep, with Figaro curled up beside him. Zane is hugging the tuxedo cat like he’s a stuffed animal, his fingers lightly twitching in his sleep. The two of them have been spending a lot of time together. At first, I thought Zane would be reluctant, but now? They’re practically best friends.

A sudden vibration shatters the quiet. Zane’s phone.

I freeze.

I shouldn’t peek. I really shouldn’t. But curiosity is a terrible thing, and before I know it, my gaze flickers to the screen.

Carter:Are you still mad at me?

Carter:Come on, man. Lara’s coming in a week. I don’t want this atmosphere between us.

Carter:I said some shit to Mia, but I was… fucked up. I’m gonna apologize.

Carter:I don’t want to lose you.

I stare at the messages, my mind racing. I never told Zane everything Carter said to me. Not because I was protecting him—at least, I don’t think so—but because I didn’t want to make things worse between them. And yet, here Carter is, sounding... different.

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