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Birdman was going to die today, whether by my hand or Calvin’s. So he should thank me for saving him from more torture.

“You’re welcome,” I said.

I extracted the knife, wiped it clean, and returned it to the rack. Blood poured out of Birdman as his head lolled to the side.

I exited the room, closed the door, and looked over at Calvin, who sat in a chair talking to one of his men.

“He’s all yours,” I said.

Calvin got up and walked up to me. “Is he dead?”

My jaw tightened. “He threatened Vivian and left me no choice.”

“Stupid fucker.” He raked a hand through his hair. “My wine warehouse just exploded.”

“Ghost.”

Calvin nodded. “And his followers.”

“Are you bringing them and Birdman to the farm?”

He smirked. “How do you know about my farm?”

“I dwell in the dark too, Calvin. Part of understanding and navigating the dark terrain is knowing what happens in it.”

“Nothing wrong with having a farm of exotic animals that feast on things you want to get rid of. The beasts get fed, and evidence disappears.”

“A win-win situation.”

CHAPTERFIFTY-NINE

VIVIAN

Kayleeand I sat inside Arrow’s Maserati, heading to the Mount Centauri Museum for their reopening. The event called for casual attire. The late January weather was oddly warm, so we all wore jeans, knit shirts, and lightweight coats.

I stared out the window, looking at the sun, trying its best to peek through the thick clouds. It was like hope trying to break free from all the dark clouds blocking it. But I sensed its strength—its resilience. No matter how many obstacles lay before me, I’d forge ahead. Surrendering wasn’t an option.

So many things floated in my mind. Aimee, Kaylee, my dad’s health, Ghost, my relationship with Arrow, and the approaching Lunar New Year of the Wood Dragon, orT?t,the Vietnamese version of the Chinese New Year. The past few years, we celebrated in California with my dad, but this year Kaylee and I would do something small in Rhode Island with Arrow. I loved that he was so open to various cultures. Perhaps the Navy had allowed him to see and experience the world differently than most.

I glanced over at Arrow. My heart twirled at how stunning he was. Was he truly mine? Did he love me? Neither of us had said those sacred words yet.

Today, the hard angles of his face were more pronounced than usual. Something was on his mind. He’d been busy the past few days, and so was I. We hardly talked. We didn’t get to have our “discussion.” Our focus had been securing an error-proof plan to ensure we would successfully locate and rescue Aimee.

What was she doing now? Could she sense us coming for her?

I leaned back in the seat and released a quiet sigh. I didn’t want him to know I was stressed. Nerves spiraled in my stomach like it was trying to tell me something. After that event at Midnight Chaoss, I wondered if Ghost had been injured from the blast. When would he come for me? I had something special waiting for him.

What if Aimee wasn’t at the museum today? What if all the clues we’d uncovered were just part of my twisted hope, making me see something that wasn’t there?

Stop the negative thinking.

It was hard not to see both sides when a child’s life was at stake.

“I’m nervous,” Kaylee said from the back seat.

Shifting, I reached for her hand. “Me too. But Aimee needs us. Let’s stay positive and alert, okay?”

She nodded.