CHAPTER 15

Pearl’s breaths came in sharp bursts as she slammed the car door shut. The tremble in her fingers made the keys slip from her grasp. She reached for her phone, heart still thundering from Gary’s grip, from his words, from the suffocating threat in his eyes. She hit Ethan’s name and pressed call. It rang once. Twice. Then— “Pearl?” “Something happened.” Her voice cracked. “I need you.” “Where are you?” “Still at the school. Back lot. Please hurry.” He didn’t ask more. He just said, “On my way.” --- It took Ethan nine minutes to get there. He drove like the road owed him answers, every red light a personal insult. He didn’t need a full explanation. The tremor in her voice, the urgency—it was enough to raise every protective instinct he had. When he pulled up, he spotted her first—hunched in the car, face pale, eyes wide. Then he saw him. Gary. Stalking toward the car with all the entitled arrogance of a man who believed himself above consequence. Ethan didn’t think. He di