A cold wave ran down my spine. It felt like my heart was about to stop.

I knew where they were.

They reached the door and began to kick it in. It gave way far too quickly. The moment it flew aside, he appeared on the screen.

He stood frozen. The shock was written all over his face.

They rushed at him.

Then the camera lurched violently and fell to the floor. After that, there was only sound. Blows landing, shouting.

Then, suddenly, someone in the background shouted, “Get off him!”

A foot came down on the camera.

The screen went dark.

My hands were shaking. I turned around and grabbed the boy by the collar.

“Where is the rest of the video?” I shouted.

His eyes widened.

“I… I don’t know, that’s it, I swear, I have no idea where—”

“You are lying.”

Rage, panic, and something close to terror tangled together inside me. I shook him hard.

“There has to be more. Where can I find it?”

“On… online? I found it online, I swear. Please, just let me go.”

“Ed! Edward, calm down, you are frightening him,” Michael shouted, pulling me away from the boy.

“Scaring—? Do you have any idea what—” I went still. My whole body shook with rage.

Michael took the phone and started watching the video.

“Bloody hell. That is… that is him. Right?”

I managed a single nod.

“Alright,” Michael muttered, trying to pull himself together. “This was uploaded just now. I will call someone. We will try to trace it, find out who did it-”

I did not hear the rest.

My body moved before I had made any decision. I turned and walked away. Walked for a few steps, then broke into a run.

My heart pounded wildly. Every breath burned in my chest.

Behind me, Michael shouted, “Ed! Wait! Where the hell are you going?”

I did not answer. My mind raced, trying to work out which direction to run. Where was it? Where, damn it, was his place from here?

No. I would never reach it on foot.

A car. I needed a car.

I stopped and looked around, trying to remember where mine was. That brief hesitation was enough for Michael to catch up.

“Bloody hell, have you completely lost your mind?” he shouted, breathless. “Your car is too far. We will take mine. It is closer.” He pointed down another street. “Come on.”

When we reached his car, I went straight for the driver’s door and tried to open it, but Michael caught it and slammed it shut.

“Look at the state you are in,” he snapped. “You’re not fit to drive. Passenger seat. Now.”

Anger surged through me. I wanted to hit him.

“I do not have time for this nonsense,” I shouted. “Give me the keys.”

“Passenger seat,” he repeated. “I’ll drive.”

I swore under my breath, wrenched the door open on the other side, and dropped into the seat.

“Move. What are you waiting for?”

“Seat belt,” Michael said firmly. “I’m not moving this car until you put it on. The last thing we need is to die on the way there.”

“For God’s sake. Seriously? Michael, you have chosen this exact moment to follow the rules?” I said it through my teeth, but I buckled my seatbelt anyway.

“Do you remember his address?” Michael asked, more calmly now.

I exhaled.

“Not exactly. I will recognise the way. Just drive. Quickly.”

Michael started the engine, and we pulled out into the city streets.

Everything flashed past the windows. Yet the car seemed to be moving unbearably slowly.

The moment we reached his building, I ran out without waiting for Michael to switch off the engine.

I had barely reached the entrance before the door burst open straight in front of me.

Kazuo stepped out.

His huge frame filled the doorway, leaving me no space to pass.

He wore a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt covered in enormous yellow tropical flowers. His light jeans were torn in several places, and there was blood on them.

Blood?

I froze.

Whose blood was that? Was it his?

Then something in me snapped back into motion.

“Move,” I said. “Get out of the way.”

Kazuo did not move. From the look on his face, it was clear he had not expected to see me. He looked down on me, and his surprise turned to anger.

“The hell do you care?” he growled. “You got no business in there.”

My hands curled into fists.

“Let me through. Now. Or I swear I will…”

“Or you’ll what?” he cut in sharply. “You here ‘cause you saw that video?” He let out a harsh laugh. “Took you long to get here, huh?” His expression hardened. “Little late for that, though. Damn coward.”

He let out a low growl. The corners of his mouth twitched, revealing his white fangs.

“Real fucking interesting,” he snarled. “Edward Moncler running all the way over here for some hybrid,” he said, practically growling. “You ever think what happens if someone sees you here?” he went on furiously. “That reputation of yours gonna survive that?”

He leaned closer, grabbed the front of my coat, and hauled me up until our faces were nearly level.

I opened my mouth to snap something back at him, but a hand shot between us and seized Kazuo’s wrist.

“What the hell is going on here?” Michael shouted, looking from me to him. “Why all this aggression? Calm down. I don’t know what the problem is, but we can speak about it like normal people.”

For some reason, Kazuo’s expression shifted. The anger vanished, replaced by something more similar to confusion. His fingers loosened, and he let go of my coat.

“He’s fine,” he said. “Don’t go thinking he’s some kinda weakling or anything. I showed up right on time. Just a couple scratches. So you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

He jerked his chin toward a bag lying nearby.

“I took him to my place. I’m here to grab his stuff.”

He cast Michael a short glance, still looking completely bewildered, then looked away.

“Well… you know, if you want, we could…”

BZZ... BZZ... BZZ…

The loud buzzing sound interrupted him.

“I mean, if…” he tried again.

BZZ... BZZ... BZZ…

I shoved an irritated hand into my pocket to silence the phone and froze.

It was my father.