Page 69

4:39 p.m.

I wanted harmony when bringing my worlds together, not this collision.

“No one say another word,” Agent Dane commands under his breath. “Civilians are watching and recording. Leave now in an orderly

fashion.”

Paz breaks free of my hold and rushes out of the restaurant.

I keep my head low, ignoring all eyes and cameras. If I thought my father was going to be pissed before, he’s going to lose

it when that footage emerges. How long were patrons recording? I hope no one captured mention of the second Death Guarder

threat.

We all regroup outside a sour-candy shop.

“What happened in there?” Agent Dane asks.

I don’t even know where to start. I also don’t want to relive this.

“Politics,” Rio jokes, but no one laughs or even speaks.

Agent Dane reads everyone’s body language and draws his own conclusion before moving past. He informs us that Agent Andrade

has advised that we remain in the park until additional security detail arrives. He’d like to move us somewhere more discreet

in the meantime.

“I’m not going anywhere with him,” Rio says. He doesn’t even look or point at Paz.

“ Rio ,” I scold.

“No one’s trying to be around you anyway,” Paz says.

“ Paz .”

“Is that what you think?” Rio flashes a petty grin.

“Yeah, that’s what I think.”

“I am begging you both to stop,” I say, grabbing their hands when the last thing they need is to be closer. In a fight between

Paz and Rio, I’m the only one who stands to lose. “You’re both so important to me. I would like you to be friends with each

other, but I will not force that. I do need you to be cordial.” Apologies seem unlikely. The same goes for more fun at the

amusement park. “Can we do that?”

Paz won’t look at Rio but says, “Yeah.”

“Fine, but he’s not invited to our place,” Rio says. “I don’t feel safe around him.”

Paz’s light brown eyes darken with tears. I’m certain it’s because Rio continues to treat him like a threat until he asks,

“You live with him?”

I tense up.

“Not yet,” Rio answers.

I’ve never had more of an urge to use my Muay Thai teachings against a friend because one quick throat stab would get Rio

to shut up. I don’t need anyone recording me getting violent.

Paz looks nauseous and furious and defeated. “I’m done,” he says, ripping his hand out of mine again and storming away.

What is Paz done with? I hope he doesn’t mean me. Most important, I hope he’s not giving up on life. Fear of abandonment is one of the most common symptoms of borderline personality disorder, and I have no intentions of abandoning Paz. Him thinking otherwise might trigger an urge to self-harm. Or worse.

“It’s for the best,” Rio says, watching Paz vanish into the crowd.

“Are you going to say that if he dies?” I ask.

“I’m more scared of him being the death of you.”

He steps toward me, and I not only back up, I turn the other way, running after Paz to save him and our own future.