“We want answers, but not at the expense of showing you horrors you can do nothing to stop. It’s pointless and cruel.”

“It’s data.”

His eyes narrowed as if I were mocking him. I took his hand from my shoulder. When I touched it, I expected him to pull back. He gave no sign he even noticed, still watching me with that wary look. I lowered his hand but didn’t release it.

“It’s information,” I said softly. “You need it. I need it. And this is the only trustworthy source.”

I thought he’d say there were no trustworthy sources. He only gazed in the direction the girl had run, that cautious look easing but not evaporating.

I squeezed his hand. He still didn’t pull away. He looked as if he wanted to retreat behind his wall, snap at me not to be foolish, to leave this place. Yet he couldn’t. He looked at me, and I felt so much. Too much.

I dropped his hand and turned in the girl’s direction. She was long gone.

“I need to see this through,” I said, and took off.

Gabriel ran after me. I heard a grunt and turned to see him pulling off his suit coat. He caught me looking and scowled as he laid the jacket over his arm.

“Next time you plan to take us climbing through ruins, I would appreciate advance notice, so I may dress appropriately.”

“Do you even own anything appropriate?”

Another scowl, as if this wasn’t the point.

“Tell you what, the next time you get a fake message telling you to meet me at some remote location, just hit a Target on your way.”

I took off again, hearing him growl in annoyance as he came after me. As his mood darkened, it lightened mine. This wasn’t Gabriel truly angry—it was pique and ego and mild discomfort. It was a Gabriel I knew well, and it chased off the last shadows of my vision.

We came around the side terrace, picking through rubble and brambles until . . .

“This,” I said, waving my arm toward the lake. “This is what I want.”

He didn’t even look. He was too busy loosening his tie and undoing the top button of his shirt. But when I walked across the ruined patio and climbed onto the railing, he noticed. “Get down from there.”

“I’m looking for the little girl. Also, it’s an amazing view.” I stepped to the side and motioned at the railing. “Hop on up.”

He didn’t dignify that with a response, just gingerly laid his jacket over the railing after inspecting the level of filth.

“You obviously don’t see her, so get down from there, Olivia. It’s not safe and if you fall, let’s hope you’re still able to dial 911, because I won’t do it for you.”

“Grumpy.”