Chapter 52

Olivia Martins

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands shaking. The world still felt like it had caved in around me, but I couldn’t sit in the rubble forever. I needed answers. I needed something, anything, that would make this all make sense.

“I need a phone,” I told Ryker, my voice barely louder than a whisper.

He nodded like he’d been waiting for me to say it. Without a word, he handed me one and walked out, giving me the privacy I hadn’t asked for but was grateful to have.

I took a deep breath and entered the number from the slip Ryker had written out. My thumb hovered over the call button for a second before I pressed it.

It rang once.

Twice.

Three times.

No answer.

“Hello?” I tried.

Nothing.

I hung up, waited a beat, then dialed again. Still nothing. I bit the inside of my cheek and tried a third time. My heart was pounding like a war drum in my chest.

Finally, a soft, young voice answered.

“Om