Page 74 of Collateral Love

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I did what I always did.

I ran the numbers.

How fast could I get to him?

How much info did I have?

How many unknowns?

And then I did the thing I’d tried so hard not to do.

I called Zay.

He answered on the first ring.

“Ay.”

“Some rival crew got Talia,” I said.

There was no “what happened” or “are you sure.” Just a loaded pause.

“Where?” he asked.

“Off campus somewhere. She said old wood, mildew. She didn’t have time to?—”

“You move the routes?” he cut in.

My mouth went dry.

“Yes,” I said. “West lot is compromised. I pulled everyone last night.”

Another pause.

“You did that without me,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

Silence.

I could practically hear him grinding his molars.

“Text me everything you got,” he said finally. “Then stay your ass where you are.”

“I’m coming?—”

“No, you not,” he snapped. “You got us in this; let me get us out.”

The words should’ve cut.

They did.

But under the sting, there was something else.

He was pissed.

But he was still sayingus.

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