Wayne told me I’d been out for three days. He’d been here the whole time, so Hayden must’ve


    come too. He’d said on the phone he wasing right away.


    “Drink some water,” Wayne said, holding a cup to my lips.


    I took a sip, my voice scratchy as I asked, “Where’s Hayden?”


    Wayne’s face stiffened just a little. “Drink first.”


    Those words made something click in my mind, making my throat ache even more. “He didn’t


    come, did he?”


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    Wayne sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “He came.”


    “Then where is he?” If I’d been unconscious, shouldn’t he have been here? Or… was this his way


    of


    punishing me for pushing him away?


    “He left,” Wayne said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Probably off dealing with the people who


    hurt you.”


    His teasing tone helped ease some of the tension, but thinking about how dangerous those people


    were sent my heart racing. “Did he go alone? When did he leave?”


    “I don’t know the details, but don’t worry,” Wayne said, sounding sure of himself. “If he got you both


    out of there, he can handle it.”


    He seemed to have so much faith in Hayden.


    But all I could think about was how I’d once seen Hayden as just a regr guy with a job. After


    learning ‘about his real background, it was like he had be someone else entirely–someone


    with power and reach I didn’t understand.


    I remembered Jace asking me, ‘Rea, do you really know Hayden?‘


    And now… it felt like I didn’t. Everyone else seemed to know more about him than I did.


    I took another sip of water, then asked, “So, you know who Hayden really is, don’t you?”


    Wayne met my gaze. “I found out a little before you did.”


    “Why didn’t you tell me?” The question slipped out before I could stop it, and I immediately realized


    how ridiculous it sounded.


    Why would anyone else need to tell me about my own boyfriend’s background?


    “Rea,” Wayne said softly, “I’m sure Hayden had his reasons. Let him exin when you talk to him.”


    Even with his own feelings for me, Wayne was still defending Hayden. It was another reminder of


    how selfless he was, always putting me first, no matter what


    “I understand,” I murmured, taking another sip of water. “I’ll call him.”


    Wayne got up, walked to the nightstand, and handed me my phone. He took the cup from my hands


    and said, “You make your call. I’ll go check on Jace.”


    He left the room smoothly, giving me space without making it awkward.


    I unlocked my phone but hesitated. Instead of calling Hayden right away, I opened our chat. The


    last message I sent him was a photo from when I first arrived here. No new messages from him, but


    then again, he’d been here in person.


    With a deep breath, I dialed his number.


    The phone rang once, then twice. Unease crept in as it kept ringing. Just as I thought it would go to


    voicemail, the call connected–but Hayden didn’t say anything.


    “Hayden, why aren’t you saying anything?” I asked, breaking the silence.


    “I’m busy,” he said tly. “I’ll call youter.” And then he hung up.


    I stared at the screen, feeling a hollow emptiness spreading through me.


    I tried to reason with myself–he must be dealing with something urgent. But as I sat there, the sky


    outside dimmed, and his call never came.


    What was going on?


    couldn’t sit still anymore. I got out of bed and headed for the door.


    Just as I reached for the handle, someone pushed it open from the other side, and we nearly


    crashed into each other.