Chapter“Wayne,” I greeted, holding the phone up.


    “I heard everything from Jace. Are you okay?” Wayne’s voice was warm but concerned,


    “I’m fine. I just feel bad for bothering you,” I replied, trying to sound polite.


    There was a brief pause. “Just make yourself at home. You’re safe here–don’t worry about


    anything.”


    “Alright,” I said quietly, unsure of what else to add.


    Normally, Wayne would’ve ended the call there, but this time, he surprised me. “You don’t need to


    worry. Nothing’s going to happen to you


    That’s not something anyone can guarantee. Since Heman chose to target me, I wouldn’t feel safe


    unless Hayden and the others took him down for good this time.


    But I didn’t say any of that. Instead, I just murmured a soft “mm–hmm.”


    “If you need anything, just call me. Also… there’ll be a part–time maiding over to cook and tidy


    up,” he said before hanging up.


    I handed the phone back to Jace. He took it from me, then mentioned, “Wayne should have a


    couple of spare phones around here. I’ll grab one for you.”


    Not having a phone had been… inconvenient, and with me off the grid, Lena was probably freaking


    out enough to call the police by now. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    “I’ll grab one for you,” Jace repeated, heading over to a nearby cab. He opened a drawer like


    he’d done this a thousand times before, pulling out two phones. “Pick one.”


    “Sure.”


    “You still have your SIM card?” he asked.


    “Yeah.”


    “Want me to put it in for you?”


    “No, that’s okay.”


    I kept my answers short, curt. Jace seemed to notice, giving me a faint, slightly awkward smile.


    “Want me to show you around?”


    “Don’t you have more urgent things to deal with? You should get back to that.”


    Jace studied me for a moment. “Alright. Feel free to look around on your own. I’ve only been here


    twice myself… haven’t even fully explored the ce.”


    I stayed quiet. He seemed kind of ufortable with the distance I was putting up. “Alright then,


    I’m off. If the maides, she’ll let herself in, so don’t be rmed. And if you need anything, just


    call me… or Hayden.”


    This time, I didn’t even bother responding. I just gave a small nod.


    Jace didn’t say another word before he just left, leaving me standing there alone in this massive,


    empty vi. The silence was so loud, it felt like the walls were closing in, and I couldn’t shake this


    weird, abandoned feeling.


    I took in the ce, checking out the style of Wayne’s house. Honestly? I kinda loved it. It was like


    the Pinterest dream home I’d always imagined but never thought I’d get.


    After I finished wandering around like a tourist, I found a phone, ripped open the box, set it up, and


    slid in my SIM card. I opened my chat app, and, bam, notifications flooded in. Yuna, Jace, Wayne,


    Lena, even Demi–everyone was trying to get in touch.


    Everyone except Hayden.


    Yuna’s messages were filled with pics of her and Wade–seriously, how many different ces could


    they eat at?


    I


    Wayne and the rest were just checking in, asking if I was alright.


    Lena, though… Lena. She was on me like a hawk, asking why I hadn’t replied, why my phone was


    off, why! was basically MIA.


    Herst message was from two hours ago. She knew thepetition was today and said if I didn’t


    message her back, she was about to call the cops.


    Feeling a twinge of guilt, I quickly typed: [My phone broke. I’m fine, don’t bother the cops.]


    She responded in milliseconds: [Your phone broke, and you didn’t think to buy a new one? I’ve been


    freaking out for two days! Thank god Jace told me you were fine, or I would’ve already called the


    cops on you!]


    Of course, Jace had told her I was okay–but conveniently left out the whole “your best friend got


    kidnapped by a kingpin” part. He probably didn’t want to freak her out or get the cops involved in


    whatever mess had gone down.