(Elias)
Avery walked out of the cafeteria and I did not try to stop her. My hands were still on the table, and I watched her back fade into the hall. She was angry, but I did not care. She could be angry all she wanted. I was not sorry for what I did. I would do it again. I would do worse if it kept her safe.
Jackson sat down hard in his seat. Luca put his tray aside and ran his hand through his hair. I could see the anger on Jackson. I could see it all over Luca too. No one talked for a long moment. The noise in the cafeteria kept going around us, but none of us cared.
Jackson spoke first. His voice was rough. "That call was real. Someone wants something from her. Someone wants to watch her life. That is not normal."
"I know," I said. I did not raise my voice. I did not have to. The a
