Page 49 of Inevitable Endings
Sawyer follows us inside.
It’s not surprising. He’s always had a way of knowing when something’s wrong, even when we don’t say a word. Especially then.
The door clicks shut behind us, and I let out a slow breath. The hallway is dim, the only light coming from the streetlamps outside, casting long streaks of gold across the floor. Everything feels… off. Like the walls are too close, the air too thick.
Sawyer leans against the counter, arms crossed over his chest, watching. Waiting.
Ada moves first, tossing her bag onto the table with a little too much force. She exhales sharply, running a hand through her hair before turning to me, eyes flashing.
“Don’t.”
I blink. “What?”
She shakes her head. “I know what you’re thinking. I see it all over your face. And the answer is no.”
“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”
“I do,” she snaps. “You want to dig. You want to go looking for answers. And I’m telling you, Isabella, don’t.”
Sawyer straightens. His eyes flick between us, his brows pulling together in that way they do when he’s piecing things together. “Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
Ada is quiet.
I meet Sawyer’s gaze, feeling the weight of the words beforeI even speak them. “Something’s going on,” I say finally. “We don’t know what, or who it exactly concerns, but… we need your help.”
He studies me for a long moment. Then, slowly, he nods. “I’m listening.”
I hesitate, glancing at Ada. She’s stiff, jaw tight, but she doesn’t stop me when I turn back to Sawyer.
“I can’t explain everything,” I admit. “Not yet.”
His eyes narrow slightly. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”
“I know.” I exhale. “But it’s real. And it’s dangerous.”
Ada scoffs. “That’s an understatement.”
Sawyer doesn’t react. He just watches us, the weight of his silence heavy in the room. “What do you need from me?”
I don’t hesitate. “Help. Protection. Eyes on the ground. If something comes up, if something shifts, I need to know.”
Sawyer exhales through his nose, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
I don’t answer.
I don’t need to.
He nods again, slower this time, as if making some unspoken decision. “Alright.”
Ada groans, dragging a hand down her face. “You’re both insane.”
I turn to her, something sharp curling in my chest. “You don’t have to be a part of this.”
Ada’s head snaps up. “Oh, so you’re just going to do this on your own, again?”
I shrug. “If I have to.”
“Jesus Christ, Isabella.” She lets out a harsh breath, pacing away before spinning back. “You don’t even know what you’re getting yourself into, I have investigated these men for years. Just because you got close to one doesn’t mean you know a single ounce of their world and work field.”
