Page 21 of Twisted Violet

I stand and follow them wordlessly.

The hospital room feels smaller with everyone inside it. Stevie’s sitting up, pale but alert, her throat still bandaged. Cyrus stands near the window. Ezra is standing at her side with his arms crossed, and Tristan is typing something quietly on his phone.

Rome’s voice is steady as he talks. Detached, like he’s reading off a police report instead of explaining how I almost got dragged into a van.

He tells them I had trouble getting the gate open. That I got out of the car to try again. That someone was waiting in the shadows. That he grabbed me and tried to drag me into the hedges.

He also tells them I fought back. That I was lucky and got to Atlas’s gun in time. That I took the initial shots, and Niko finished him off.

He doesn’t mention that I threw up afterward. That I couldn’t stop shaking. That I didn’t even know if I was still breathing until Niko showed up and reminded me how.

He keeps it simple. Clean. Just the facts.

And maybe that’s for the best, because if he told the story the way I remember it, if they saw how pathetic I really looked curled up on the gravel in the rain, they’d probably be having a very different conversation right now.

At one point, Rome mentions that Niko called him and Dallas to cleanup the mess, and Dallas’ eyes flick to me.

I keep mine on the floor.

When he finishes, Stevie gestures for Atlas to hand her a notebook. She scribbles something and passes it to Cyrus, who reads it aloud.

“For her safety, we think it’s best if Alex goes into hiding again.”

The room goes still.

My brow furrows. “What?”

Atlas glances at Stevie, then back at me. “It’s just a safety precaution. We don’t think this has anything to do with you. Someone hired him to come after us. We need time to figure out who that someone is.”

His words land like stones in my stomach.

For a second, just one, I think ofhim.

The man who locked me away, who broke me piece by piece. He promised he’d always come back for me. He never knew my real name. Never knew where I came from. But still… the thought creeps in. Could it be him?

No.

I shove the thought aside before it can take root.

That chapter’s over. He’s gone.He has to be.

“The hunt for him could get messy.” Ezra adds. “Your sister is safe in the hospital. It only makes sense to secure you in one of our safe houses until it’s done.”

“I’m not doing that again.” I say, flinching at how loud my voice sounds. “I’m not disappearing or living out of a suitcase. I just got my life back.”

Stevie writes again.

“You almost died.” Cyrus reads. “We aren’t risking your safety. Not again.”

I cross my arms, fingers digging into my elbows. “So locking me away again is the answer?”

“It’s not like that.” Tristan says gently.

But it is, or at least, it feels that way.

Like I just escaped one cage only to be thrown into another.

The room is quiet. I can feel them trying to figure out how to convince me without making it sound like they’re forcing me.