Chapter 71

“No.”

Benjamin’s voice was firm, the kind that made my chest tighten. His hand rested on his knee, fingers tapping lightly, like he was trying to keep his temper steady.

“I’ll handle it,” he said again, his eyes locked on mine with unshakable certainty.

I shook my head, refusing to back down. “No, Benjamin. We can’t just sit here waiting for him to make the next move. We don’t even know how much he knows. What if he doesn’t actually know I killed Lucy? What if he’s only trying to get a reaction out of us?” My voice dropped lower, thick with unease. “We need to see him. I need to see him.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment he didn’t answer. Then he leaned closer, his voice calm but edged with steel. “Fine. But you’re not going alone.” His eyes hardened, leaving no room for argument. “I’ll go with you.”

Relief and nerves tangled inside me. I gave a small nod. “Okay.”

Silence fell between us for a moment, heavy with everything unspoken. Then I stoo