Chapter 43 - Strings to Pull

Orion's POV

The engine purred beneath me as I drove through the city streets, my grip on the steering wheel tightening with every turn. My mind was a chaotic mess of thoughts, but for the moment, I focused on the task at hand: picking up Chloe.

She had been waiting at the Cafe on East Road, and despite the tension burning through me after my encounter with Ava, I couldn't leave her waiting. She has been calling all evening, I could sense how unsettled she is over the phone.

The traffic light flickered red, and I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders to relieve some of the tension. It was then that my phone buzzed on the dashboard, a notification lighting up the screen.

I glanced at it briefly, ready to ignore yet another unimportant email or update. But what I saw made my pulse quicken.

Holly. Holly Rodriguez.