Page 192 of Hymns of the Broken

“Macee,” I croak. “Blake’s here? He came back with us?”

She gives me a look, just a little softer than usual, and lowers her voice. “Yeah, babe. He’s in the basement. Chained up, still out cold, as far as I know. Jasper and Riot made sure of it.”

A thousand thoughts crash through my mind—memories, nightmares, the smell of sweat and fear and chemical burn, the cold bite of steel on my wrists. I barely hear Macee over the sound of my pulse in my ears.

She nudges me gently with her elbow, keeping her voice low. “Hey, don’t freak out. The cops don’t know he’s here. All they know is you’vebeen foundand you’re safe. So far, Jasper and Riot have kept them from breaking down the doors just to get your statement. But they’re not letting anyone take him, not yet.”

My chest tightens. “You mean…theydon’t want the cops to have him?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. I think they have plans for him. The kind you don’t ask about if you want to sleep at night.”

A tremorruns through me. I try to steady my breathing, but it’s useless. Half of me wants to know what Jasper and Riot plan to do, and the other half is terrified to ask.

I stare at my reflection in the ripples, voice barely above a whisper. “Do you think… do you think they’llreallyhurthim?”

Macee shrugs as she heads to the steps, her tone suddenly as cold as the pool tiles. “Honestly, Sawyer? I hope they do.”

I understand what she’s saying. There’s a darkness in my own chest that is "mwahaha-ing" at the thought of revenge, but could I really hurt him?

I towel off, skin still humming from the sun and the chlorine, hair damp and wild around my shoulders. My muscles ache in a way that almost feels good—like maybe today I remembered what it was like to be alive and safe again, even for just a few hours. Macee squeezes my hand as we pass back through the kitchen, telling me I can come grab her for a movie night later if I wanted to.

My head’s too full though, everything spinning since she told me about Blake—the basement, the cuffs, the secret rotation of the guys keeping watch. My stomach twists. I hadn’t even asked what had happened to him. I hadn’t even thought of asking.

How could I not know?

The house feels too bright as I move through it, towel knotted at my chest, skin prickling with nerves. Every laugh from the living room sounds distant, every hallway too long. I pass Ash and Jace on the stairs; their conversation dies when they see my face, but I don’t stop. I don’t trust my voice not to crack.

I find Jasper in the upstairs hallway, leaning against the doorframe to his room, arms folded tight, head bowed like he’s in deep thought. When he looks up, his eyes find me instantly.

“Sawyer.” He straightens, concern instantly sharpening his features. “You okay?”

I don’t answer right away. I move tohim, heart pounding, fingers trembling as I clutch the towel tighter. “Can we talk?” My voice is too quiet, shaky. “Please. I just found out about Blake. About the basement. I didn’t—no one told me…”

He’s in front of me in two steps, hands gentle on my arms. “Hey. Hey, breathe.” His thumbs sweep over my skin, grounding me, but it only intensifies the ache. “I was going to tell you. I just wanted you to feel safe first.”

I nod, swallowing hard, fighting the urge to curl in on myself. “Ishe—are you all really keepinghimdown there? I didn’t see him after…”

Jasper’s jaw clenches, something dangerous flickering behind his eyes. “Yeah. We are. He’s not leaving until we say so. The cops have been by to talk to you, but Silas and the guys are keeping them away. We’re not letting anyone near you, Sawyer. Not until you’re ready.”

I blink fast, tears stinging my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He sighs, pulling me closer, pressing my head to his chest. “Because I didn’t want to put more weight on you when you were barely holding yourself up. You’ve been through enough. We’ve got it handled. All you have to worry about is healing.”

I swallow, breathing in his scent, letting the steady beat of his heart slow mine. But I have to ask. I have to know. “What happens now, Jasper? What are you going to do with him?”

“That’s for us to figure out, but I promise, whatever happens… you’ll always be safe.” He tips my chin up so I have to look him in the eyes. “Do you trust me?”

I look into his eyes, and I nod, even as my insides tremble.

“I trust you,” I whisper. “But I need to know everything, Jasper. No more secrets. Not between us.”

He nods, jaw tight, but there’s relief in his eyes. “Okay. No more secrets. Come on, let’s go somewhere we can talk. Just us.”

And when he leads me into his room, closing the door behind us, I know this isn’t just about Blake.

Jasper closes the door behind us, the click sharp in the silence. My heart’s pounding as he lets me move first and I take a seat at the edge of the bed. My hands fist the towel at my chest as I stare at the floor. He stands a few feet away, arms crossed, watching me. Not with suspicion, but concern.

“I should’ve told you sooner,” he says.