To say Abby was worried would be an understatement. Ever since she and Lev got separated, she’d been tearing through the streets of Santa Barbara like a woman possessed—cornering strangers, demanding answers, ignoring every instinct for caution. It wasn’t pretty, but when it came to Lev, there were no limits.

She slammed into someone rounding a corner and didn’t hesitate—pistol drawn, muzzle inches from their forehead, hand steady with practiced violence. “Don’t move,” she snapped. “Have you seen a boy—scars on his cheeks?” She didn’t expect anything. She never did. But Lev was all she had left, and she’d burn the city down to find him.

The person nodded frantically and she lowered the gun slightly, surprised yet cautious.

“You… have?” She said. What if the person had hurt him? Raided him, even? The thought made her guard go up again.

“Where is he?” She said.

“He’s safe. He was gonna shoot me, but then he told me he was looking for a girl who matches your description come to think of it. He’s waiting outside this hotel,” they said. There was more to the story, but it sounded pretty safe.

Abby quickly pushed past the person and spotted Lev, arms crossed, eyes sharp. She quickly placed her hands on his shoulders. “Lev! Thank God you’re okay…” she said.

“Abby?” He said, surprised and relieved. Abby turned to the person who had found Lev. She was so relieved to have reunited with Lev that she felt… grateful, almost.

“So… what’s your name?” She asked them, one hand still on Lev’s shoulder.