Page 214 of The Silent Note

Now, the truth is flooding the entire world, and everyone knows the real Sloane. She wasn’t a flirt who wasasking for itlike all the articles implied. She was never involved with Slavno. She was never a ‘troubled kid’.

She was a victim and deserved to be protected instead of blamed.

Still, I redeemed Sloane by accepting information from the man who ordered her dead. The truth is out but at what cost?

“Are you okay?” Viola asks, her voice softening.

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you happy this is going viral?”

“I am happy. I’m just tired.”

“Do you want us to take you home?” Cadence asks me from the front seat.

I dig my fingers into the seatbelt strapped over my chest.

Home.

Where is that? The mansion where my mother floats through empty rooms, enjoying her jewelry and her status? The hotel room where Kurosaki’s men tried to kill me? The villa where I shared a twin bed with Zane?

None of it feels right.

Or maybe I’m the one who doesn’t feel right.

My eyes slide to my phone and the urge to call Zane is strong, but he’s done so much for me. I want to be able to smile and thank him. To be my most sunny and brilliant self when we meet.

And today…

Today, I feel as worn out as a used dishrag.

“Grey?” Cadence urges.

I glance up and see Cadence watching me. She’s not the only one. In the rearview mirror, I meet a pair of piercing amber eyes set in a face that looks so much like Zane’s that it hurts.

“Just drop me off at the next stop,” I mumble.

“No, we can’t—” Cadence protests.

Dutch puts his hand over hers and the two share a look. It only lasts a moment, but it snaps a sigh out of Cadence and she says nothing more.

When I climb out of the car, Cadence springs to the sidewalk too.

“You did a great thing today.” She holds my hand. “Sloane would be really proud.”

I squeeze her fingers, feeling too exhausted to even cry.

Cadence glances around. “Oh, wow. I didn’t realize we were only a few blocks from Redwood.”

She’s right. I can see the rising steeples of the school. The towers are pointing to a sky that’s streaked with a brilliant pink and purple sunset.

“Where are you going from here?” Cadence asks.

“I’ll find my way home,” I answer.

I figure I’ll just walk for a bit, but I notice a contact-less bike rental station up ahead. Pedalling gives me something to focus on and I take off on a pathawayfrom Redwood.

The terrain starts to roughen, the cars become fewer and fewer and the bike alerts me that it’s losing battery. Hopping off, I walk the rest of the way on foot, wondering if I should head back to civilization.