Page 84 of Twisted Violet

“What the hell, Alex? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t want to make things worse.” I swallow. “I didn’t want to be your problem again.”

“Alex-”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. You’re not a problem.”

It’s a lie. A sweet one at that.

“Did you tell the guys?” She asks.

“No.”

There’s a heavy pause. “Okay. I’ll get Tristan on this. We’ll track it, and we’ll loop the guys in-”

“You don’t have to do all that.”

“I do. You’re not safe.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you acting like this doesn’t matter?”

“Because it doesn’t change anything. Nothing is going to stop him.”

“Alex, please just let me-”

“I’ll forward the messages.” I pause, the silence stretching like a held breath. “I just thought you’d want to know. Since you’re still paying them for the illusion of my safety.”

Then I hang up.

And the quiet that follows feels like the truest thing I’ve heard all day.

THIRTY

DALLAS

I toldmyself I’d leave her alone. That it was better to give her space. But here I am, knocking on her door anyway.

Her room is quiet when I enter, lit by soft light pouring in through the window. She’s curled up in the corner of her bed, legs tucked beneath her, a book resting open in her lap. One of my hoodies hangs off her shoulders, sleeves bunched at her wrists, and her long lavender hair is tied up in a lazy knot plopped on the top of her head.

Ollie lifts his head from the floor and blinks at me with that calm, knowing gaze.

He doesn’t trot towards me, like he normally does.

He just lies there, silently judging me from his spot at her feet.

“Hey Stranger,” I say.

She doesn’t look up. “You knock now? That’s new.”

“Trying to be polite,” I answer, stepping further in. “Didn’t know if you were busy.”

She doesn’t tell me to leave, but she doesn’t invite me to stay either. So I move to the edge of the bed and sit, careful not to jostle her space. The mattress dips under my weight, but she doesn’t acknowledge it, just flips a page like I’m not even here.

“You okay?”