Page 205 of Burning Daylight

“Why are we here?” My tongue trips on the words.

“This is where he said to meet,” she replies smoothly. “Where you two first saw each other, isn’t it?”

My stomach twists, but I nod. “Yeah.”

“You’re sure you’re okay to walk? It’s a little rocky.”

“I’m fine.”

But I’m not. My legs feel strange when I climb out. Like they’ve been replaced with something heavy and loose. I wobble, and she’s there, steadying me with a hand under my elbow.

“Careful,” she murmurs. “Let me help you.”

I nod, too tired to argue. I let her guide me up the trail, let the trees blur around the edges. Everything feels sticky. Slow.

“What was in that drink Bevie gave me?” I ask, my tongue thick.

She doesn’t answer.

We walk.

Or…she walks. I stumble.

My knees drag. My arms tingle. I blink slowly, once. Twice.

Something isn’t right.

Something’swrong.

“Where’s Roman?” I ask.

Or maybe I don’t ask it. Maybe I just think it.

We reach the cliff, and I search for him, but he’s not here. He’s not…

And then the world tilts, and the sky smears sideways, and I’m falling.

Darkness rushes in.

52

ROMAN

I’ve never been a violent person, but right now I could burn down this entire town.

“I swear to God, Benny, if they touch her, I will make sureeveryonepays for it. Where are they taking her?” I ask, standing over him.

He shakes his head and rasps out, “I overheard Freddy telling someone to get her to him. That he’d take her to the spot where you saved her. They know it will draw you out.”

My brows furrow.Upside Down Rock.“How do they know where that is?”

Benny gives me an incredulous look. “Freddy knows everything, Roman. Haven’t you figured that out? There’s a reason he’s able to kill news stories and bend them the way he wants. You and Juliette were photographed years ago, and he got the pictures.”

Maybe if my mind wasn’t so singularly focused on finding her, I’d be able to focus on what the hell he just said.

I scoff. “How do I know I can trust you?”

He gives me a look. “You don’t really have a choice, do you, cousin?”