Page 66 of The Silent Note

Finn frowns, his frustration palpable. “You and Sol can’t just act on instinct all the time. We have a plan for a reason.”

“When does anything ever go to plan?”

Finn glances away.

“What’s done is done. Worrying about variables and things we can’t see coming won’t fix anything. That stone’s already rolling down the hill.”

Dutch curses.

Cadence saws her bottom lip between her teeth.

Zane takes my hand and tugs me forward.

“Where are you going? We need to call Sol and get to the bottom of this.”

“I’m going to bed,” Zane answers darkly. “You and Finn can stay up worrying, but I’m going to enjoy the last bit of my weekend before school tomorrow.”

“Zane,” I whisper, resisting.

He’s too strong and I’m haplessly dragged to his bedroom.

Sloane flits along, skipping beside us.

I wrench my hand free the moment Zane releases me to lock the door.

“Your brothers are right. A missing person is one thing. A death from a mysterious fire brings another level of attention we don’t need. What if we get caught? What if you boys go to jail because of me?”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

Sloane’s smile shatters.“I’m not sure if I dislike him for being arrogant or admire him for being so optimistic right now.”

Zane grins crookedly.

Irritation fills my body in an instant.

Our personalities couldn’t be more polar opposite. I’m about to have a hernia and he thinks everything is a joke.

“Relax. Even if we get caught, it won’t affect you,” Zane says.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m serious, Grey.”

“If the police find out, I’ll admit everything.”

“I won’t let you.”

“You can’tstopme. And besides, this is my mission. My fight.”

The smile finally dies. The mask shifts. His eyes burn into me, sending a shiver of fire down my spine. “Dammit, you’re not in this fight alone anymore. This isourfight now.”

“This has nothing to do with you.”

“If it’s about you, it has everything to do with me.”

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