Page 26 of Make Them Cry
A shoe? A hand? My brain can’t decide.
I unlock the car, slide in, slam the door, and lock it in one motion. My hands are shaking so badly I almost miss the start button. The engine roars to life.
Headlights flood the garage—and for a split second, I see him.
A man in dark clothes, hoodie up, back turned to me. He’s not moving toward me. Not yet. But he’swaiting.
I can’t see his face.
My phone buzzes again.
MASK:Drive. Now.
I peel out of the spot, tires squealing, adrenaline screaming through my veins. I don’t look back until I hit the ramp. When I do, the shadow’s gone.
By the time I make it two blocks away, my hands have stopped working. I pull over, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles ache.
Another message lights up my screen.
MASK:You did good. Go somewhere public for now. You’re safe.
MASK:Rule #1. Always trust me.
I close my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Safe.
The word feels like a lie and a promise all at once.
I glance in the rearview mirror. My reflection looks pale, shaken, but alive.
Then I think of Gage, handing me coffee this morning, that soft half-smile, like maybe he knew today was going to fall apart again.
And I don’t know why, but the thought of him—his steadiness, his infuriating calm—grounds me.
I pop a stick of Misfit chewing gum into my mouth and type back.
ME:Okay. I trust you.
Then I start the car again, merging into the traffic and noise, pretending that means something close to normal.
But somewhere, deep down, I know the truth.
This isn’t over.
Not even close.
EIGHT
GAGE
By the time I get the alert from Arrow, River’s already running.
Her phone GPS lights up my secondary monitor—pulsing red dot moving fast through the lower east side, heading for the parking garage exit. The live feed shows a hooded figure in the shadows by the concrete pillar. Wrong stance. Wrong timing. The posture of someone waiting, not passing through.
I’m already out of my chair before I realize it. The adrenaline kicks in, sharp and hot, a jolt that feels like muscle memory.
ARROW:“I’ve got eyes on her. You’re closer, Gage. Two blocks out.”
